Mail thieves may be taking advantage of inconsistent delivery patterns in the RD3 Tamahere district.
Peter Nation
Resident and Agbiz Consultants director Peter Nation said there has been a problem in Bruntwood, Pencarrow, Tauwhare and Woodcock roads since NZ Post ended the contract of Danny and Ian Kennedy in November 2023.
There have been similar complaints around Matangi.
The couple used to arrive at a predictable time and deliver courier packages to the door. Residents say their replacement is unpredictable and leaves packages at the mailbox.
The Kennedys were three years into their contract with NZ Post to deliver “all mail” in the RD3 Tamahere district in November 2023 when it was cancelled after they complained of a breach.
Danny and Ian Kennedy contested New Zealand Post’s new delivery plan.
Nation, who shared photographs of mail theft in action with The News, said he had complained to NZ Post about the inconsistent delivery and the thefts and was told the contractor was only required to deliver daily and there was no set time or process.
He has taken to having courier parcels delivered to another address.
“We are not sure what we have had stolen, but there is stuff that has not arrived, and I have asked for replacements,” Nation said.
Thefts are happening with no set patterns, and different vehicles and drivers are involved.
“If this continues and people look for alternatives, we risk losing the service as volumes will no doubt fall. There seems to be many issues at play here.”
The chair of Waikato Chamber of Commerce, and former chief executive of the National Fieldays Society, also complained about the contractor failing to deliver the Cambridge News and rural newspapers.
“We do not get rural delivery papers nor the Cambridge News which they are contracted to deliver,” Nation said.
Police were unable to share any data on the frequency of mail theft in the area. The News also sought comment from NZ Post.
