Something to write home about: new Ophir postmistress on her charming job

When people in the small Central Otago town of Ophir want their mail, they pay a visit to Harriet Cameron instead of their post box.

Just over six months since she took over the job of running the country's oldest continually operating post office, Cameron is delighting in hearing people's stories and researching Ophir's history.

A visit is like stepping into a bygone era, with 40 pigeonholes for mail, a collection of old telephones, an original safe set in concrete and a collection of other curios.

A world away from her time policing in Invercargill and running a high-country station, Cameron said it took some time to get used to the pigeonholes.

"My primary thing was to make sure I got the post boxes right because sometimes they'd walk in and assume that you'd know exactly which [one] and reach for it, just like a habit. It took me a month to get around that," she said.

The post office was built in 1886 and was now owned by Heritage New Zealand.

"Any architect in the world can design the most amazing new-age building but these ones never date," she said.

"They are the heart and soul of this area. These buildings are robust, they're resilient, they tell a story like many of the characters in this area and they take the knocks with time as well, so it makes them more attractive."

With the heater cranked to ward off the frosty morning air, there was much to catch the eye and pique a visitor's curiosity.

Cameron said it took about 10 letters for the back of a stamp to taste bad but they had a special roller to dampen them and save the tastebuds.

"You get young children through who've never licked the back of a stamp and put it on a postcard," she said.

"Those kind of things connect us with where we've come from and how we've evolved over the years and the way the communication has evolved over the years and trying to really keep it alive and well."

Val Butcher retired as Ophir postmistress in August 2025 after 26 years in the job.

Cameron first heard about the role on social media and has since enjoyed getting to know the locals and their habits as well as visitors who called in.

They loved to add the original rubber postmark or frank to their mail on the corner of the stamp, she said.

Despite NZ Post closing service counters and cutting delivery days in other parts of the country, locals said the Ophir Post Office offered much more as a community and information hub and one of the South Island's most photographed buildings.

Ophir resident Sara said she would probably need to drive 20 minutes to Alexandra if the post office closed because she doubted a courier would service the area.

"We wouldn't be without it, really. If we didn't have this, we wouldn't be getting our mail because we're actually rural so we get free post boxes here and obviously good conversation when they're not nosying at the history," she said.

Sara said it was more than just a post office, especially during the pandemic.

"We'd just knock on the window, postmistress Val back then would look out and go 'Oh, there's your mail on the windowsill' and everybody would be distancing but we'd still be having a chat," she said.

Cash, an 11-year-old labrador, popped in with his owner Sean Beale, eagerly picking up his newspaper and carrying it around, tail wagging.

"He's pumped. Any time he goes into a building where he's excited, he has to pick something up with his mouth. It can be a shoe, a piece of paper, anything," Beale said.

The post office enhanced Ophir's community feel, Beale said.

"My family lives up north in Auckland and you mention to them that you need to travel from your home to a post office to collect your mail, everyone is just blown away by it," he said.

"I think it's a really unique thing and I guess it is for this time and age."

Working in a historic post office was not without its quirks.

In spring, Cameron must temporarily close the two brass post slots outside the building after finding more than just letters.

"Every time I went to open the box, I'd just be met with sticks and debris and stuff like that 'cos the damn starlings had started nesting in there," she said.

Cameron said her role as Ophir postmistress was a joy.

"It's been a really humbling experience. I've been embraced wholeheartedly by the community and very welcomed and included, right from the get-go," she said.

Cameron said a trip to Ophir and its historic post office was worth writing home about and visitors were always welcome.