Support from N.Z. Post

Press, 5 December 1989, Page 41

Support from N.Z. Post

New Zealand Post, Ltd, will be underwriting the lazy letter promotion which started in Christchurch this week. New Zealand Post’s contribution involves free delivery of the lazy letter to every Christchurch household, free postage for all lazy letters leaving the city, free postage for competition coupon returns, and a substantial contribution to the cost of artwork and printing.

“We believe that the lazy letter promotion is an exciting project for New Zealand Post,” says Mr Greg Walton the manager of New Zealand Post’s South Island Direct Marketing Centre. “The lazy letter promotion supports our plans to raise the profile of New Zealand Post in the South Island and especially our postal outlets which have recently been renamed Post Shops. “We are aiming at promoting our 43 Post Shops

in the greater Christchurch region. At the same time the lazy letter will promote Christchurch and bring growth to the city’s numerous service industries.

“We see an optimism in the local business community especially those who are gearing up for the introduction of free trade with Australia in July next year,” Mr Walton says. But the promotion will be successful only if sufficient numbers of Christchurch people send the lazy letters to their friends throughout New Zealand.

During this week about 120,000 lazy letters will be delivered free to Christchurch households. A further 25,000 will be available through the Post Shops from next Monday at 50 cents each. The cost of the lazy letter includes postage. The lazy letter includes a personal Invitation and

a calendar of activities in Christchurch during the summer. Coupons will offer Christchurch goods, services and venues that are likely to be of interest. A number of events will be held to promote the lazy letter campaign. One will be held at the Riccarton Post Shop at 10.45 a.m. on Thursday when the Christchurch Wizard will “blow” the premises with pyrotechnics and cast a “spell” on the project.

Ansett hostesses will assist the promotion by distributing lazy letters to travellers departing Christchurch. “New Zealand Post was the obvious organisation to underwrite the lazy letter promotion,” Mr Walton says. “It is, afterall, our business. “We expect that many Christchurch people will visit their local Post Shops and discover what they have to offer when

they post their lazy letters.

“Although the core of our business is the 40 cent postage, we have a variety of services available such as Easipost, Fastpost and the new international Courierpost which can have an item delivered in England in two or three days. “Then there is the extensive range of handiboxes specially designed to post a variety of items including video tapes, compact discs and audio tapes,” Mr Walton says. With Christmas approaching, Post Shops have a variety of seasonal items such as Christmas post cards and Christmas wrap. There is also “The New Zealand Stamp Collection for 1989” which promises to be a popular publication. “People who have not visited their local Post Shop will be surprised by what is offered for sale,” Mr Walton says.