If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the News story.
Use the vocabulary list to check the meanings of some words before you listen.
Vocabulary
announce – to officially tell people something, especially a plan or decision
messaging – the activity of sending a message to someone by text or social media
project (verb) – to estimate the amount or cost of something in the future, based on information that you have now
postal – relating to the official system for sending and delivering letters
counter – the place where you pay in a shop
pharmacy – a shop where medicines are prepared and sold
urban – relating to towns and cities
cater for – to provide the things that a particular person or situation needs
upgrade – to improve something and make it more modern
retail – the selling of goods or services to the public, usually through shops
hub – the central and most important part of a system or an area
rural – relating to the countryside (not the city)
Try these activities while listening
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- Why are there fewer letters nowadays?
- How many letters do New Zealand addresses now receive per week? How many did they receive in 2013?
- What is the first change in the Government-NZ Post agreement?
- Complete the gaps: NZ Post is closing 142 service counters in ___________, ___________, and ___________ around the country.
- What percentage of people will live within four kilometres of an NZ Post store?
- Why are some business owners unhappy?
- Why might this change have a greater impact on elderly people?
- What will NZ Post’s new retail hubs be for?
- Are there hubs in Christchurch and Palmerston North now?
- What is another change in the Government-NZ Post agreement?
- This change has already started. True/ False?
News story
NZ Post has announced that they are making some changes, due to declining volumes of mail.
People write fewer letters nowadays, as e-mail and instant messaging are quicker and easier. Companies also prefer to send bills via e-mail because it’s cheaper. These changes have led to a reduction in the number of letters which need to be delivered. According to NZ Post, New Zealand addresses now receive fewer than 2 letters each per week, compared with 7.5 in 2013. It projects that this number will fall to 1 letter per week by 2028.
As a result, the Government and NZ Post have made changes to their agreement about postal services. One change is that the minimum number of post shops is decreasing from 880 to 500. Consequently, from May this year, NZ Post is closing 142 service counters in stores, pharmacies, and libraries around the country. NZ Post says they have planned carefully to ensure that services are still available at other locations near those which are closing. There will still be 567 post shops open, and 90 percent of people living in urban centres will still be within four kilometres of a NZ Post store.
However, those business owners who are losing their postal service counter are unhappy about this change. They say they will lose a lot of business, as customers come to post items and often buy something at the same time. Others are concerned about the impact on elderly people, who still rely on mail more than the internet. These people may find it more difficult to get to post stores further away from their homes.
On the other hand, more people are sending and receiving parcels now, because of online shopping. To cater for this need, NZ Post is planning to upgrade its stores and set up new retail hubs for sending, collecting, and returning parcels. Two hubs are already open in Auckland, with others coming in Christchurch and Palmerston North later this year.
Another change that may come in future is a reduction in the frequency of mail delivery. Currently, urban addresses receive mail three days per week and rural addresses five days per week. The agreement between the government and NZ Post now states that the minimum frequency is two days and three days per week respectively. However, this change has not been implemented yet.
If you want to know if a post shop in your area is closing, check the NZ Post website.
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer
a. Why are there fewer letters nowadays?
Because e-mail and instant messaging are quicker and easier, and it’s cheaper for companies to email bills
b. How many letters do New Zealand addresses now receive per week?
Fewer than 2
How many did they receive in 2013?
7.5
c. What is the first change in the Government-NZ Post agreement?
The minimum number of post shops is decreasing from 880 to 500
d. Complete the gaps: NZ Post is closing 142 service counters in ___________, ___________, and ___________ around the country.
NZ Post is closing 142 service counters in stores, pharmacies, and libraries around the country.
e. What percentage of people will live within four kilometres of an NZ Post store?
90 percent
f. Why are some business owners unhappy?
Because they will losea lot of business
g. Why might this change have a greater impact on elderly people?
Because they still rely on mail more than the internet
h. What will NZ Post’s new retail hubs be for?
Sending, collecting, and returning parcels
i. Are there hubs in Christchurch and Palmerston North now?
No (they will open later this year)
j. What is another change in the Government-NZ Post agreement?
A reduction in the frequency of mail delivery (from three to two days per week for urban addresses and five to three days per week for rural addresses)
k. This change has already started. True/ False?
False (it has not been implemented yet)