FreePost

You can offer FreePost with all your business mail within New Zealand.  Post as much or as little as you like – and you’ll only be charged for the responses you receive.

We’ll deliver this mail to your New Zealand Post PO Box or Private Bag address, with a one to three working day delivery target.

Prices & specifications

To receive mail at the FreePost approved format price, it must meet the FreePost approved format envelope layout requirements and maximum size, thickness and weight. Any envelopes not meeting these requirements will be charged at the non-approved format price.

If your envelope is larger than 260mm x 385mm, thicker than 20mm, or heavier than 1kg, it will be charged at parcel rates.

Receiving mail by FreePost

The first step is to apply for a New Zealand Post PO Box or Private Bag (if you currently do not have one) for the FreePost responses to be sent to. 

The second step is to apply for a FreePost authority number or word. You cannot have the FreePost authority number or word if that number or word is already being used by someone else or if New Zealand Post decides it isn’t suitable.

The third step is choosing which type of FreePost layout you would like to use.  You have the option of either (1) an approved format, which may make you eligible for a postage discount or (2) a non-approved format.

Once you have completed these steps you can include an approved pre-printed Freepost envelope with your mail, or promote your authority number/word on your stationery, marketing material and business letters.  Your customers can then write this on a blank envelope before sending mail to you.

Approved format FreePost envelopes

To meet the approved format layout, your envelope design must meet the following requirements:

• Meet the current New Zealand Post standards for postcodes, envelope layout and addressing
• Have your FreePost authority number written on one line and located in the sender address/company logo area
• Display your business name and New Zealand Post PO Box or Private Bag address
• Have the address printed using black or dark blue type 3 FIM indicia
• Have the FreePost and New Zealand Post button impressions printed using black or dark blue ink
• Be a non-window envelope only.
• Have the address panel bars(located at each end of the envelope)  between 2mm and 5mm wide
• Meet the maximum dimensions, thickness and weight requirements to receive the approved format price (130mm high x 235mm long x 6mm thick and 500g in weight). The minimum envelope dimensions for approved format FreePost envelopes are 92mm high x 165mm long.

See examples of approved E9, Cheque Mailer and DLE FreePost envelopes (PDF 172kb)

We will check your FreePost responses to see if it meets these requirements. If it doesn’t, we may not be able to accept or deliver your mail.

We recommend that you talk with us about your FreePost envelope design prior to printing. You can have your layout approved by faxing it to 0800 424 802 or emailing it to us at fp.pp@nzpost.co.nz.  We’ll be in touch if we have any queries or need to suggest a change to your design. If everything is ok, we’ll let you know that your design has been approved.

As soon as your FreePost layout design is approved, you can go ahead and have your envelopes printed.

Non-approved format envelopes

A non-approved format means that you can be creative with your envelope design, or allow your customers to handwrite their reply mail. Non-approved envelopes are not eligible for the approved format discount.

A non-approved FreePost response layout may look like this:

Apply authority word or number

To apply for your FreePost authority word or number, complete the FreePost application form (PDF - 124kb) and

• post it to us using the FreePost address on the form or
• email as a PDF to fp.pp@nzpost.co.nz or
• fax it to 0800 424 802

Apply for envelope design approval

You can design your own layout for your FreePost response envelopes.

You need to submit your design to be approved before printing. You can email or fax your design for approval:

• Email it as a PDF to fp.pp@nzpost.co.nz
• Fax your design to 0800 424 802

We’ll be in touch if we have any queries or need to suggest a change to your design. If everything is ok, we’ll let you know that your design has been approved.

As soon as your FreePost layout design is approved, you can go ahead and have your envelopes printed.

Cancelling a FreePost number or word

Please inform us in writing if you wish to cancel your FreePost authority number or word. You can do this by post, fax or email:

Post

The Manager
Customer Service Centre
New Zealand Post
PO Box 2349
Christchurch 8140

Fax

0800 424 802

Email

fp.pp@nzpost.co.nz

New Zealand Post reserves the right to cancel your FreePost authority number or word at any time.

Once your FreePost authority number or word is cancelled, please inform your customers that the number or word is no longer to be used. You’ll continue to be charged for any business mail received using your FreePost authority number or word after it has been cancelled.

Notifications & prices

When you receive FreePost responses, we’ll leave a card in your New Zealand Post PO Box or Private Bag to let you know how many responses you’ve received and the amount you need to pay.

Payment is made over the counter by cash or cheque when you collect your responses. If you have a New Zealand Post Account, we will charge the payment to your account.

Find out about getting a New Zealand Post account by calling our Customer Service Centre on 0800 501 501.

Compensation, high risk & prohibited items

Ensure your item is safe to send and find out if you’ll be compensated if it goes missing or gets damaged.

Compensation & prohibited items

Please note: Your FreePost authority number is not the same as your International Business Reply authority number.