An oddity in Luggate postcodes is creating headaches for many residents.

Around half the households in Luggate are on Wānaka’s rural delivery route and the other half are on Cromwell’s route due to their different postcodes, creating a “tale of two halves”, according to councillor Barry Bruce.

Because postcodes are used for service provision across a range of areas beyond postage, this is creating all sorts of issues for residents with a Cromwell postcode, Luggate Community Association (LCA) chair Judy Thomson said.

Judy told the Wānaka App local accommodation providers have had guests arrive confused, expecting their accommodation to be located in Cromwell.

It has also caused issues with health services in a range of ways - for example, vaccination bookings automatically directing people to Cromwell when their address is entered. 

Judy said she had had a technician come all the way from Alexandra to fix her washing machine.

“He said it was because of the postcode,” Judy said.

While her repair was covered by warranty, other instances have added unnecessary cost to customers and travel times to workers.

Some households have also had issues making online purchases or bookings, Judy said, but she was not aware of the postcodes causing any problems with emergency service call-outs.

Judy said she wants the allocation of postcodes in Luggate to be reviewed.

“I think the majority of the community would say Wānaka is their community of interest,” she said. “It’s 12km up the road.”

An appeal to NZ Post, which is responsible for allocating and managing postcodes, has been “a frustrating process with no answers”, Judy said.

Judy said Barry was now working with the LCA to work out the best method for advocating for a review.

PHOTO: Wānaka App