The postal services at Albert Town Four Square will be ending soon, one of many similar services which NZ Post announced this week would close from May.

Albert Town Four Square is one of 142 ‘retail partner stores’ on the cutting block - a move which will “rebalance” the NZ Post network.

“A lot has changed since the 1980s, when our minimum store requirements were last set,” NZ Post general manager consumer Sarah Sandoval said.

“Customers now rely far more on NZ Post stores for collecting and sending parcels compared to letters.”

She said NZ Post had “carefully assessed customer and network data” to ensure it provides “the right mix of services in communities”.

Albert Town Four Square is one of nine retail partner stores set to close its postal services. The others are seven in Dunedin and one in Oamaru.

NZ Post’s four other Upper Clutha retail partner stores (Hāwea Store & Kitchen, Paper Plus Wānaka, Tarras Country Store and Wonderland Makarora Lodge) will continue to operate.

Newly updated minimum store requirements (in an agreement between NZ Post and the government) enable NZ Post to adapt to changing demand, Sarah said.

“The retail network needs to be rebalanced to better suit the way customers use our products and services today and into the future.”

PHOTO: Supplied