Tania Goodall and Kim Juno are kept busy with 220 post boxes. PHOTO/GIANINA SCHWANECKE
GIANINA SCHWANECKE
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‘Snail mail’ has found a new home in Take Note Carterton after Tania Goodall took over managing the postal services counter last week.
The Carterton Post Shop closed in 2011, with postal services then moved to Video Ezy where they remained until it closed last year.
Take Note Carterton took over housing the postal services in December, officially opening in late January.
“It’s been a lot of learning and a lot of work though,” said owner Kim Juno.
“We provide all the bill payments, posting within New Zealand and overseas, land transport – like licensing and car registrations, and courier hundreds of packages each week.”
The store was rearranged to make room for the packaging area and fit the 220 post boxes which sit at the front of the building.
Juno said the patience of locals was appreciated while they got the system running.
“It’s been well received and supported,” she said.
“It’s been really nice meeting lots of new people who we haven’t had in the store before.”
Taking on the extra services was a no-brainer for Juno.
“It complements what we do and it’s a service we just couldn’t afford to lose. We have to have this service available in town.”
She said it was important it was accessible to elderly and more isolated members of the community, as it could be difficult for people to travel to Greytown or Masterton for the same services.
A spokesperson for NZ Post said the partnership worked well.
“It works well for our partners, as it can strengthen their business, and it is more financially sustainable for NZ Post, in an ever-changing mix of postal services usage – the decline of mail, versus the significant increase in
parcel services.
“It’s also good news for our customers, as it means we are able to stay in these communities, often with longer opening hours.”
