NZ Post Confirms Major Urban Store Changes
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NZ Post has confirmed it will make changes to its urban retail store network to better align with the way customers now use its services. While the total number of urban partner stores will decrease, the remaining network will offer improved services and upgraded facilities.
The decision follows a recent update to the Deed of Understanding between NZ Post and the Government, which has allowed the organisation to modernise its retail network requirements for the first time since the 1980s. With more people now sending and collecting parcels than letters, NZ Post says its store footprint needs to reflect this shift in customer behaviour.
Sarah Sandoval, NZ Post General Manager Consumer, says the current number of retail stores is far larger than needed. “While these changes will see NZ Post remove services from 142 urban retail partner stores nationwide in 2026, the remaining network of 567 stores will still be significantly larger than any New Zealand supermarket or bank branch network. In fact, 90% of Kiwis living in urban areas will still be within 4km of an NZ Post store.”
These Invercargill suburban agency stores are set to stop postal operations from May 2026:
- Avenal (Gladstone Pharmacy), Herbert Street – a key service point for Avenal and Gladstone
- Newfield (Newfield Dairy), Centre Street – a local hub for eastern Invercargill suburbs
- Sylvan Bank (Sylvan Bank Pharmacy), Yarrow Street – serving the Richmond community
No changes are planned for rural stores at this stage.
To support the transformation, NZ Post is investing in new retail hubs that combine several services in one modern location. These hubs are designed to provide a better experience for customers who are sending, collecting or returning parcels. Two hubs are already operating in Auckland – in Newmarket and Hardinge Street – and further hubs are planned for Christchurch and Palmerston North in early 2026, with more to follow across New Zealand.
Sandoval says, “Customers now rely far more on NZ Post stores for collecting and sending parcels compared to letters. The retail network needs to be rebalanced to better suit the way customers use our products and services today and into the future.”
People can check the NZ Post website to find out more about the changes in their area. Timelines for specific communities will be shared well ahead of any service adjustments.
“Over time, these changes will help us operate in a more sustainable and commercially responsible way, which is essential for ongoing improvements to stores, services and overall customer experience,” Sandoval says.