Snow disrupting mail deliveries in New Zealand
Mail deliveries in New Zealand have been disrupted for three days because of heavy snowfalls.
New Zealand Post was forced to delay deliveries earlier this week in the South Island because of dangerous conditions on local roads.
The “extreme” road conditions have also caused problems for New Zealand Post mail-sorting staff in trying to get into work, leading to limits on mail processing.
The Post said there had been disruptions to delivery in areas south of Oamaru, with limited courier deliveries in Dunedin and Invercargill.
Icy conditions also stopped mail deliveries in Christchurch yesterday, but normal mail services are expected to resume tomorrow (Thursday).
In a statement, the Post said: “Improved weather means services in Christchurch should be back to normal for Thursday. The only possible exception is for any properties where residual ice or snow present a potential hazard – however this is expected to create minimal, if any, disruption.”
Across the Pacific, extreme snow conditions have disrupted postal services in Chile, where the government has declared a state emergency because of the problems caused by snow, particularly in the Auracania mountain region.
Thousands of people in the area are without power, while blocked roads have meant problems getting supplies through.
Postal operators around the world have been advised that there are delays to mail deliveries in the region encompassing the localities of Lonquimay, Curarrehue, Melipeuco, Curacautín, Pucón, Cunco, Vilcún and Villarrica.
