Workers suffer as mail slows (New Zealand)

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Nine people at the Manawatu Mail Centre have lost their jobs as snail-mail becomes less popular.

Mail circulation in the Manawatu has dropped about 7 per cent over the past year, and nationally about 64 million fewer letters were posted.

As a result, five mail-sorting and four administration and managerial positions have been cut in Palmerston North.

A further four contracts have not been renewed, and 12 positions, including a mixture of posties and mail sorters, have been phased out through natural attrition.

Postal Services chief executive Peter Fenton said fewer letters sent meant less work.

"It's partly to do with more people using email, but the economic climate has also resulted in fewer transactions and fewer people marketing and posting communication to customers."

Union for Postal lead organiser Wayne Ruscoe said New Zealand Post called for voluntary redundancies and longer-serving staff took the option of early retirement.

Further job cuts could still be made, New Zealand Post said.

There have been 237 redundancies throughout the New Zealand Post Group this year, 86 jobs cut through natural attrition and 61 contracts not renewed.

Worst-hit areas were Auckland, with 80 redundancies, Wellington with 53, Canterbury with 32 and Otago with 19.