NZ Post trials parcel delivery in city

WARWICK SMITH/Manawatu Standard

ON THE ROAD: Palmerston North postie Jude O'Neil trials the new trailer this morning.

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Posties will have more parcel power in Palmerston North from today.

New Zealand Post is trialling having posties deliver parcels weighing up to 5kg, along with the normal run of letters.

They will be given trailers to tow behind their bikes, and some of the bikes will become battery powered, said New Zealand Post's general manager for postal delivery, Matthew Riordan. Posties' mailbags will also get bigger.

The trial will run through April and May. Palmerston North has been chosen because it has a mix of postal delivery modes and the infrastructure to support the trial. The city's 41 posties deliver 90 per cent of the mail by bicycle; the rest walk or use motorbikes.

New Zealand Post was reacting to postal facts. The volume of standard letters was declining, but parcel volumes were increasing because of online shopping and use of mail-order catalogues. This growth was expected to go up five to 10 per cent each year, from 2011.

The parcel trials would be held in Highbury, Awapuni, Hokowhitu and Riverdale.

"This is our first trial of different options to see what works and what doesn't. We're a long way still from knowing if any of this equipment will be used in other parts of New Zealand," Mr Riordan said.

- © Fairfax NZ News