Residents of Raumati Beach are rallying to prevent the closure of the local PostShop on May 22.

Mayor, Ross Church, along with Mana Electorate MP, Kris Faafoi, and a community representative, have arranged to meet NZ Post on Wednesday at 7:30pm at Kapiti Uniting Parish in Raumati Rd to discuss what can be done to retain postal services in Raumati village.

The meeting follows a demonstration by 120 locals outside Raumati Beach Post Shop who are opposed to the closure.Church said he will underscore the Paraparaumu-Raumati community board’s call for an extension of time to allow solutions to be found at the meeting.

Initial results of a survey of 1600 households, carried out by the local community board and Faafoi, reveal that 290 residents want the PostShop to be retained as an essential part of their community services.

According to Faafoi, 95 per cent of respondents want NZ Post to keep the Raumati Beach PostShop open, and 100 per cent want post services to remain at Raumati Beach shops.

“NZ Post needs to listen to locals on this one,” said Faafoi.

“While NZ Post’s business model is changing fast, it needs to make sure it keeps providing basic services in the community.”

Last week the Paraparaumu-Raumati Community Board held a public meeting to canvas community views.

NZ Post has advised local residents to go to the PostShop in Coastlands, but many elderly people are opposed to this idea because they need to pay bills and renew car licenses in person as they do not have computers, as well as difficulty accessing Coastlands.

According to a NZ Post spokesperson, the Raumati Beach PostShop will close on May 22 as it is not financially viable, however, will have post centre in the village with postal, post box, and courier serves, but not paying facilities. It is also open to having a local business run the postal, post box, and courier service.