Mail delivery in New Zealand has been disrupted by heavy snow and ice in the last few days butservices are now getting back to normal in most parts of the country, NZ Post reported today.
The polar blast has been described by the media as a once-in-a-lifetime event, bringing snow tothe capital city of Wellington and the Auckland region in the north for the first time since the1970s.
New Zealand Post spokesman Michael Tull said deliveries have resumed today in most parts of thecountry after reduced service levels earlier this week but a few more days are likely to be neededto ‘catch up’ to normal.
“In some areas the weather created a backlog of mail, which we’re aiming to clear over thenext few days. This backlog was created by road and airport closures, postponed mail rounds due tohazardous road and footpath conditions, and the closure last night of some of our largest mailcentres – including Christchurch and Wellington.
“Christchurch has been the hardest hit area, and while posties will be back out on the streetstoday, mail delivery services will continue to be limited in the short term,” he added.
The Wellington Mail Centre is likely to be back up and running today. “We’re keeping a closewatch on the Christchurch Mail Centre situation,” NZ Post said.
Tull explained that postal staff had pulled out all the stops to resume mail deliveries in thebeginning of this week where possible but road closures and icy conditions have created someunavoidable delays.
“We apologise for the inconvenience, but we simply must place the highest priority on protectingthe safety of motorists, pedestrians and our own postal staff,” he added.
