'Our Postal Services ... will they stay within reach?' poster

This poster was commissioned by the New Zealand Post Office Union as part of its extensive 1986 campaign to 'Save Our Post Office', in response to the proposed division of the century-old Post Office into three different businesses. The poster graphically expresses how people and communities could be affected by the loss of post offices, reduced services and higher costs. However, in 1987 the Post Office was split into three new state-owned enterprises – New Zealand Post, Postbank (which took over the Post Office Savings Bank) and Telecom (which took over telephone and telegraph services). Small communities were particularly affected by withdrawal of services.

Wellington Media Collective

The poster was designed by Dave Kent and printed by the Wellington Media Collective (1978-98) for the New Zealand Post Office Union. The Collective began as a volunteer organisation in late 1978 and shared skills in design, photography, screen printing and offset printing with community organisations, trade unions, individuals, activist groups (Māori, tauiwi (non-Māori), feminist, unemployed), actors/theatres, musicians and artists.