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Magazine Contributors Frans Hertoghs Kiwikorrels: NZ Posties strike
Magazine Contributors Frans Hertoghs Kiwikorrels: NZ Posties strike
| Kiwikorrels: NZ Posties strike |
 Gang violence scares off postiesJan 26, 2007 New Zealand Post is refusing to deliver mail to three Hamilton streets following recent gang violence in the area. From Friday until Tuesday, residents in Tennyson Road, Emerson Place and Dryden Road will not be getting letters in their mailboxes.By Frans Hertoghs New Zealand Post spokesperson Fiona Mayo says the Fairfield streets have seen a lot of gang violence recently and posties feel intimidated. She says up to 50 letters a day are delivered in the affected street and residents can collect their mail from the mail centre in London Street.The decision will be reviewed on Tuesday. Hamilton to stamp out gang violence Jan 27, 2007 Hamilton City Council says it is working with police on an action plan to stamp out gang violence in the city.Tensions have flared over the past week, with eight people arrested in connection with a drive-by-shooting last weekend. Posties are refusing to deliver mail in three streets where gang tensions are rife for fear of their own safety. Hamilton City Councillor John Gower says the council has a meeting scheduled with police next week. Gower says the council and the police have a close relationship. He says the escalation of gang tensions is a huge concern but he is confident they will get it under control. Fairfield mail gets through again Jan 30, 2007 New Zealand Post has resumed deliveries in a gang-plagued suburb of Hamilton, but with security escorts in tow. Posties had cancelled deliveries to Tennyson Road, Emerson Place and Dryden Road in Fairfield for two days after gang violence in the area and rising fears for their safety.Violence has escalated in the area recently, with eight arrests in the wake of what is believed to be a gang-related shooting. But a NZ Post spokesman says it was quiet over the anniversary holiday weekend and he is confident there is no immediate risk to resuming deliveries. Delivery manager Matthew Nant hopes the two-day suspension has allowed tensions to cool off. The company says its mail runners are comfortable and it will address any problems that crop up. It says it has talked to its delivery team and took advice from police before resuming deliveries. A postie, who wants to keep a low profile, pedalled back into the neighbourhood on Tuesday, but her manager says he walked around with her to make sure the first day back went okay. However some residents say all is not well. Some say they do not feel safe and one local said they are moving to Wellington. Source: www.tvnz.co.nz Three questions: 1 What real danger was there for posties on that particular Friday? 2 Why is the danger gone, thanks to the escort of the manager? 3 Why are bike gangs blamed for the drive-by shooting? Tribute to the council and police with their ruthless action against the gangs. Even more tribute to the brave manager in Hamilton who - by risking his own life - protected the young postie and her bike! The Dutch version of this article is published in the March/April 2007 edition of Holland Focus. Ask your News Agent or take out a subscription.
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