Image
Tonga Post is the designated postal operator for Tonga and provides postal, printing and money transfer services.
Through the Pacific Postal Development Partnership (PPDP), the Australian Government and Australia Post worked together with Tonga Post to scope opportunities to increase operational efficiency.
As part of the PPDP, Tonga Post received an electric delivery vehicle, motorbikes, ring scanners (scanners worn on the fingers for mobile workers), conveyor belts, van trolleys, retail scales, industrial fans and personal protective equipment.
Chief Executive Officer of Tonga Post, Lotomo'ua Tu'ungafasi, said the equipment has made a big difference to working conditions of staff as well as to Tonga Post’s service offering, enabling them to increase the frequency of deliveries, particularly in rural areas.
'In the past mail delivered to households in the Eastern and Western districts was often not done monthly but quarterly. Now we deliver once a month which is an improvement to our services,' Ms Tu'ungafasi said.
'Parcel trolleys and the other trolleys provided have also assisted staff so that they no longer have to carry the 20kg parcel bags and instead they are moved around in a trolley.'
Conveyer belts, ring scanners and parcel trolleys provided under the program have also been used to streamline the transfer of mail to and from the airport, as well as provide safety benefits for staff.
'Conveyor belts are now being used to transfer mail bags to and from airport and from the van to the exchange,' she said.
'Ring scanners have helped improve our operations as the existing scanner could only be used in the office. Now with the ring scanner, we are exploring opportunities to scan mail bags and items at the airport and work together with customs to clear customer parcels more quickly.'
The electric delivery vehicle has enabled Tonga Post to reduce fuel consumption, a key contributor to operational costs, and the motorbikes have enabled delivery to the door in remote villages, and numbering of houses for the first time. Ms Tu'ungafasi noted Tonga Post’s gratitude for the equipment. 'These assets have enabled the Post to serve our people in ensuring their mail and parcels are delivered on time and reach vulnerable Tongans who live far away from the capital,' she said.
The Australian Government and Australia Post look forward to continuing to work with Tonga Post on future opportunities to share knowledge and experience.