New Zealand Post Mail Centres Re-Open
New Zealand Post advises that the Wellington, Waikato and Nelson mail centres have re-opened this afternoon. This
follows confirmation from Police that the sample taken for testing from the Eltham delivery branch did not contain
Anthrax.
The Rotorua mail centre may also open tonight, though contingency plans are in place to process Rotorua mail in Auckland
if it remains closed.
International mail, which was held overnight as a precautionary measure, is now being processed again.
Anthrax Project Co-ordinator Dale Stevens said New Zealand Post expected to have cleared the backlog of mail by Saturday
and to return to business as usual.
"New procedures have been agreed with Police to take a more measured approach to any further suspicious substances found
in the mail processing network," he said.
"From now on, when a suspicious substance is found in our network, New Zealand Post security staff will make a risk
assessment at the scene before determining the course of action.
"Containment precautions will still be taken but we will isolate the immediate area around the substance rather than
shutting down an entire facility."
ENDS
For further information Tanya Henderson, Communications Advisor 025 539 882