New Zealand Post is to close seven of its PostShop and Kiwibank stores, and downgrade another seven to PostCentres, with the loss of dozens of jobs.

The changes at the state-owned business would affect 90 staff, but the number of redundancies has not yet been set.

NZ Post said vacancies and retirements would influence the final number.

Fairfax Media revealed last month that the closures were imminent after NZ Post warned the Government it was making a $40 million loss on its store network.

Four of the full closures are in Auckland, two in Wellington and one in Dunedin.

Three of the downgrades are in Auckland with one each in New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Carterton and Wellington.

The changes will potentially be felt hardest by customers in Carterton where it is 8.5km to the nearest PostShop and Kiwibank outlet.

More closures could be on the way as NZ Post continues to review its network.

However, new stores may open if opportunities and customer numbers demand it.

Chief executive Brian Roche said the move was aimed at cutting costs and adapting to changing demand including the growing number of online customers.

Of Kiwibank's 700,000 customers, more than 300,000 use online banking.

The company was also planning to install new self-service kiosks handling letters, bill payments and parcels, similar to bank ATMs.

"The ongoing migration to malls and large shopping complexes and people shopping near where they work versus near where they live, is having an impact on the best location for our services," NZ Post said in a statement.

After the changes, set to begin in late June, there will be 910 postal outlets and 280 PostShop Kiwibank stores.

The company has been hit by a rapid decline in postal deliveries, with falls of 3.9 per cent expected this year and 5.1 per cent in 2012 which would see a $25m loss of revenue each year.

NZ Post chairman Michael Cullen has signalled possible sales of some investments.

But suggestions by former chairman Jim Bolger that delivery could be stopped on some days, such as Saturdays, are on the back burner.

Dr Cullen has said doing this "would at best only deliver incremental improvement".

The closures and changes:

Triton Plaza (North Shore)	Close
North Shore Mail Centre	Close
Symonds St (Auckland)	Close
Greenmount (Auckland)	Close
Grey Lynn (Auckland)	Change to Post Centre
Parnell (Auckland)	Change to Post Centre
Avondale (Auckland)	Change to Post Centre
Fitzroy (New Plymouth)	Change to Post Centre
Manawatu Mail Centre (Palmerston North)	Change to Post Centre
Carterton	Change to Post Centre
The Terrace (Wellington)	Close
43 Manners St (Wellington)	Close
Miramar (Wellington)	Change to Post Centre
Dunedin Metro	Close

- © Fairfax NZ News

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