Karitane residents fear their unique slower-paced lifestyle is being threatened by a New Zealand Post decision to get rid of counter mail from the local shop.
For decades many residents of the small coastal settlement north of Dunedin have been collecting their mail from the shop rather than having it delivered to their homes.
Residents told the Otago Daily Times going to the store and having a yarn with the shopkeeper and whoever else was there was a way of life.
A New Zealand Post decision to put an end to counter mail would destroy that and threaten the viability of the shop, residents said.
It also meant the more than 80 people who had mail delivered via the store would need to install their own rural delivery boxes.
A petition opposing the change has been placed in the store and attracted more than 200 signatures.
New Zealand Post spokesman Laurie Dillon said counter mail delivery would cease at the Karitane store from August 15.
The decision was made after a customer raised concerns some mail had not reached recipients in Karitane, Mr Dillon said.
He gave an example of a person who did not receivean appointment letter fromthe hospital.
Resident Rose Stringer-Wright said the store served as a gathering point for locals and losing counter mail would put a dent in that.
"It's like losing a school in a way,'' she said.
She had heard of older members of the community almost being in tears after learning about the change, because coming to get the mail was the "only contact they have''.
The fact the shop was an "anomaly'' was not a good enough reason to change it.
"What's wrong with being old-fashioned?''
Another resident, Rowan Holt, said there were not many places where you could take your child's horse to the shop.
A second New Zealand Post spokeswoman said counter delivery was usually a short-term option provided for a maximum period of three months.
It was possible there were other locations like Karitane where it was used long-term, but New Zealand Post was in the process of "addressing these sorts of anomalies''.
Using rural delivery would be more convenient for residents as mail would be delivered close to their property, five days a week.
It was yet to receive the petition, but would consider feedback from residents.
