Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

New Zealand yanks snooping mailman scheme

|
|
 
  
Published: Feb. 10, 2005 at 12:43 PM

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Public uproar has led New Zealand Post to stop having mail carriers collect information about addresses they deliver to, the Dominion Post said Thursday.

The scheme involved a paint company paying the post office for information on which buildings delivery staff, or "posties," thought needed painting. The posties had a lapel-mounted microphone connected to a small recorder.

Postal Chief Executive John Allen said the company had thought the concept was appropriate for New Zealand, but now knows better.

"I think the image of the postie will remain strong in the minds of New Zealanders and I hope they also understand that this is a business that needs to continue to try new things, try new ways to deliver service," Allen said.

However, Allen said the information collected by the posties in the five-day trial would be passed on to Resene Paints as required under their agreement, and the company would not pay a fee for the service.

Topics: John Allen
© 2005 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Notable deaths of 2012 AmfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala Indianapolis 500
BAFTA awards Golden Gate Bridge turns 75 Memorial Day around the nation
Additional Odd News Stories
Your Daily Horoscope
The almanac
1 of 25
President Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom in Washington
View Caption
President Barack Obama awards the the Presidential Medal of Freedom to singer/songwriter Bob Dylan during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House in Washington on May 29, 2012. The Medal of Freedom is our NationÕs highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. UPI/Kevin Dietsch
fark
Sacramento Fark Party, THIS SATURDAY June 2nd 7:00pm Streets of London
Facebook: "Uh, yeah, so we totally farked up our IPO. How about we re-brand as Face.com?"
Oh Wilbur, quit beating me with that sledgehammer
Photoshop this big bug
Al-Qaeda #2 killed again in Afghanistan. It's almost as if NATO is camping his respawn point
Russian radio journalist stabbed 22 times. "...his life is not in danger." Behold the power of vodak...