The postbox, properly called a 'Post receiver” has been removed from the site near the intersection of Cameron Road and Queen Street in Te Puke. When my Mum, a regular user of the box, phoned NZ Post to ask what the story was, she was told that it had been vandalised, and that the fire damage was too great for it to be repaired. NZ Post does not intend to replace the box and may in fact remove others also in Te Puke.
Apparently vandalism of these boxes is rife around the WBOP at the moment. It seems that there is a sector of our communities who believe that they have the right to do whatever they like, but who cares how that affects the rights of others.
When my Mum remonstrated with the NZ Post person about the lack of a box in the area mentioned above, and pointed out there are a lot of elderly people living in the area who post their mail there, she was told that they must go to get their groceries every week so they can post their mail then. Having become cynical in recent years I wonder if this is another way of NZ Post cutting their costs, after all if we are only to receive mail three times a week and only post mail once a week, NZ Post is surely going to save on wages, because many of us will stop using NZ Post and use other mail services.
Removing my cynical hat and getting back to the problem today, this is a service which is needed by many in the community... I intend to contact our MP, and NZ Post to try to get the box replaced. If other people do the same we might get the message to NZ Post that this is a service which should not be removed. (abridged)

Diane Jeffery, Te Puke

New Zealand Post responds:

We regret any inconvenience, however we have no plans to replace the street posting box in question. The volume of mail posted in this box was low, and did not meet the threshold at which we can continue maintaining, clearing, repairing and replacing street posting boxes. The recent arson attack also raised serious questions over ensuring the security of mail posted in that location. Other posting boxes remain in operation nearby, in Boucher Ave and Dunlop Rd.
Contrary to your correspondent's claim, we do not have any plans to remove further street posting boxes in Te Puke.

NZ Post spokesman Michael Tull.