Linda Hall: Editorial: Cost of posting Christmas gifts astounding

The cost of posting Christmas gifts overseas is astounding as is the price of petrol. Photo/ NZME

New Zealand Post — what are you doing to us?

I've never heard so many people complain about a price hike as I have recently about NZ Post.

At a time when we can't visit our family and friends living overseas, you would think NZ Post would keep the increases to a minimum.

I understand that prices have to go up to pay for the likes of staff etc — that's certainly been happening at the supermarket and petrol stations in Hawke's Bay.

In fact, the price of petrol is just out of control. A summer road trip will not be on the cards this year for a lot of people.

However, you would hope in times such as this that the state-owned enterprise would be kinder to its customers.

But no, on its website I found a message about price hikes starting from July 2021. The message started with this sentence: "It has been another year of change for us all."

Yes, it has been another year of change. It's also been a year of uncertainty, a year of not being able to travel except for a brief bubble to Australia and the Pacific Islands.
It's been a crazy year.

Last week the Government announced it would be easing travel restrictions in the new year. I didn't take my chances earlier in the year when the Australia/NZ bubble opened and I regret that, so I was thinking end of January, here I come.

Now that's in doubt because of Omicron, another Covid variant.

Linda Hall is assistant editor.

So my family were heavy on my mind when I took a parcel into the post office yesterday full of Christmas treats for them. Nothing expensive - just some chocolates, lollies, some games and a few bits and pieces.

It weighed just over 5kg and cost $61. I had been warned by others that prices had gone up but I was not expecting that. I thought maybe $30-$35. I was astounded. I'd be lucky if the stuff inside the box cost that much.

I hesitated. But then I thought everyone needs a bit of cheering up this Christmas and I know the children will love opening the boxes. So I paid.

All of us with families overseas will be paying the price to send a bit of joy across the oceans this year.

Wouldn't it have been so nice of NZ Post to give us all a Black Friday treat and cut prices in half for just a few weeks leading into Christmas?

Maybe next year.