The relocation of Tāneatua NZ Post postboxes has made them inaccessible for some users.

Tāneatua Superette owners Bobby and JT Singh recently bought the block of buildings on Tuhoe Street in which their shop is located and, over the past month, have removed the 120 postboxes located at number 52.

They have been replaced with 60 new postboxes on the corner of Tuhoe Street and Morrison Road.

Whakatāne district councillor Andrew Iles, who represents Te Urewera ward, says the way the postboxes have been recessed into the wall make it 'quite a job” for elderly people to access them and impossible for anyone with a disability. He says it's not good enough.

Community board member and senior citizen Luke Ruiterman is one of the Tāneatua residents who collects his mail from the postboxes.

He says he has to now step onto a platform raised about 60 centimetres above the footpath and balance on the ledge while he bends down to open his box.

Tūhoe Hauora trustee Honey Thrupp says it's 'a disgrace and disrespectful to people with disabilities”.

She will like to see the postboxes placed where people can reach them from the footpath.

'One of the people with a postbox has just had a hip replacement and uses a walker and there is no way she can reach her postbox. Even if she could get up the steps, her post box is right at the bottom, and she would have to bend right down while standing on a ledge.”

Bobby Singh says only 25 of the postboxes are currently in use.

He plans to open Taney Vape Shop in the building next to the superette, recently vacated by the old post boxes.

He says the reason for recessing the new postboxes is to provide shelter from the rain as there is no veranda over the footpath on the corner shop.

Tāneatua resident Charlotte McGougan says she has written to NZ Post to complain about the new location for the postboxes.

She says it would have made much more sense to put an awning over the footpath than to create a recess into the wall.

She also notes the wooden step placed in front of the alcove to allow people to access the postboxes is on a public footpath causing a tripping hazard to pedestrians.

Honey, who is involved with the youth centre next door, is also unhappy about the vape shop.

'It is right next to a youth hub that promotes healthy messages,” she says.

'The name also irks me. It is a put down of the name Tāneatua.”

Bobby's response is that there is a liquor store just two shops along, and that staff from the youth hub frequently buy cigarettes and vapes from his store.

He says he's doing his best to improve the building.

'When we took over, it was just all broken glass. I have just begun making improvements. I receive $250 plus GST a month for the postboxes, and it would cost a lot more to put up a shelter for the postboxes. NZ Post need to decide what they want to do.”

The NZ Post postboxes were installed in late September, since then a second wooden step and a handrail have been added. Photo in October 30/supplied/Tane postboxes

He says he's happy to assist anyone who has trouble reaching their postbox.

'I often helped people when they were in the old location, and I have said they just need to come and ask me.”

NZ Post external communications lead Greta Parker told Local Democracy Reporting, "NZ Post agrees that the current set up for the Tāneatua PO Boxes is unacceptable. We are actively working on an urgent resolution and will have an update for customers as soon as possible."

-Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.