Transend in row over revamp of UK mail
Tarnished NZ Post subsidiary Transend has become embroiled in a row over the reorganisation of British postal giant Royal Mail.
The international consultancy arm of NZ Post, severely criticised by the Audit Office last year for wasteful and excessive spending by staff, is advising Royal Mail on a revamp of its distribution network. The plan includes scrapping Royal Mail’s train distribution system, which has come under fire by British opposition MPs.
They have also voiced concern over the use of Transend. Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Don Foster said it was questionable whether it was appropriate that Transend advise Royal Mail, given its lack of experience in rail operations.
A NZ Post spokeswoman said Transend had been advising Royal Mail since 2001 on the reorganisation of its distribution system and was implementing a NZ Post-designed transport optimisation system called PLANZ. Transend was carrying out continuing consultancy work on the system, and the initial contract had led to other work. Another three staff were going to Britain next week on a new contract to introduce improvements in mail delivery.
