Anger in Mangere over closures

Residents of Mangere East are shocked to find out their beloved Post Shop and Kiwi Bank will be permanently shut down.
Progressive Enterprises Limited, owner of the Countdown chain, has redevelopment plans for the area.
Progressive, which owns 80 per cent of the lease in Mangere East's small town centre, had given the shop and bank notice to move out by April 7.
"Our concern is we know from doing our customer surveys that 90 per cent of the people come to the town centre for the Post Shop. Only 50 per cent give Countdown as the reason for coming," says Audrey Wiliams, town centre manager for Mangere East.
The closure of the Post Shop will impact on both the residents and the small business owners.
The nearest Post Shops are in Otahuhu or at the Mangere Town Centre, inaccessible to many residents of Mangere East. A high proportion of the customers surveyed said they walk to the centre.
"As I am concerned with the business side, we are afraid that the people will take their business elsewhere," Mrs Williams says.
Several community groups have called for an urgent public meeting on Thursday, March 4 at 7pm. It will be held at the Mangere East Hall at Massey Rd. Progressive has been invited to the meeting.
Mrs Williams says the Post Shop owner is trying to work with Progressive but is not getting far.
"We want to get Progressive to talk to us so we know what their plans are for the future and to get them to find an alternative way rather than getting rid of the Post Shop," says Mrs Williams.
She adds they know they will not be able to stop the redevelopment but they are hoping they can put public pressure on Progressive so that they can find a way to save the Post Shop.
Public Meeting:
7pm, Thursday, March 4
Mangere East Hall
Massey Rd
More info, ph 275-6161