Delivery of postbox a real victory

Along with plenty of letters, there have been plenty of smiles posted in Westshore over the past week.

The seaside suburb has got its postbox back.

"You can fight city hall ... and win," said Piers Hunt, who has a legal advocacy office in the small Westshore shopping area.

Mr Hunt, along with many locals, was left frustrated and angry that New Zealand Post removed the postbox, which had been in a damaged state for some time, back in mid-March - but did not replace it.

The only alternative postbox in the area was about 1km away, on Pandora Rd near the bridge.

"For many elderly people that was just too far to go," he said.

So he rallied support through a petition, which nearby dairy managers Raj and Sangeeta Singh were happy to put on the counter.

"We got 121 signatures in the first week," Mr Hunt said.

As well as adding names to the petition, many people emailed their annoyance at losing their postbox directly to New Zealand Post.

Others also approached Napier MP Chris Tremain.

"It was a combined effort and it worked," a delighted Mr Hunt said yesterday.

The Singhs were equally delighted. "They put it back about a week ago and everyone is very happy now," Mr Singh said.

After the postbox had been removed two months ago, New Zealand Post spokesman Michael Tull said that, apart from damage to the base of the box, there had also been a significant downturn in postal volumes.

The postbox had been damaged after a vehicle had reversed into it.

But the door for replacement was left partially open, with Mr Tull adding that New Zealand Post would "consider" what people had to say in submissions to them.

"And they have listened," Mr Hunt said.

"New Zealand Post called me to say they had looked at the situation and decided the box would be replaced."

The new box stands upon a stronger base and is set back further from the road, to ensure it does not suffer the fate of the original.