Changes to our Inbound parcel and Inbound mail rates and services from 1 July 2023 

We’re proud of the services we provide to people and businesses as New Zealand’s favourite courier.  

We’re committed to building a future-ready network to offer more reliable, resilient, and visible services. However, as we face rising inflation, and higher operational and labour costs, we need to continually review our prices, services, processes, and infrastructure to ensure so we can continue delivering value.  

Additionally, the decline in mail volume is continuing to significantly challenge the viability of providing mail services to New Zealand. While we are looking to reduce costs wherever possible, we need to continue to pursue all options possible to deliver a financially sustainable mail service. 

Quick links to key information on this page: 

• Inbound parcel rates and services
• Inbound mail rates and services
• PO Boxes and Private Bags rates and services

See our questions and answers for more information.

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Parcel rates and services 

Courier  

From 1 July 2023, the price of the Courier product suite will be increasing, and we are changing the way we revenue protect to standardise how you see this on your invoice.  

Revenue protection is applied in two main areas:   

1. Under Ticketing (IWXPROTEC) – where there is a difference between the size/weight that you declared your parcel at and what we have assessed. Revenue Protection will charge the correct rate plus a Revenue Protection Admin Fee. Our current Revenue Protection Admin fee is $5.50 per item.   
2. Ancillary Protection (IWXPROTEC_ANC) – where either the ancillary code (e.g. rural) was missing from the manifest, or a Dangerous Goods (DG) non-compliance fee applies. This will show on your invoice as a separate line. Our current DG non-compliance fee is $9.50 per item. 

Revenue Protection on Under Ticketed Satchels:   

• We are changing the way that revenue protection is applied to International Satchels. Under Ticketing – where a Satchel is under-declared, we will charge the correct size rate plus a Revenue Protection Admin Fee. If the item is larger than XL satchel, it will be uprated to Parcel product. In both cases the standard Revenue Protection Admin Fee of $5.50 applies. 
• The maximum volumetric weight has also been adjusted for International Satchels. You can view these new maximum limits in the International Commercial Postal Users' Guide from July 1. 

Courier Returns and Economy Returns 

ParcelPost Tracked and Untracked Returns services are being withdrawn. NZ Post offers both Courier Returns and Economy Returns, allowing increased efficiencies across auto-billing, subscribing to Tracking events and a range of labelling and integration options. NZ Post will contact you to provide notice of the change and work with you to transition to the new offering. Your current contracted rates will be retained while you transition to Economy Returns, but no later than 1 September 2023.  

Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) unclaimed items 

The International Commercial Postal Users’ guide will be updated on 1 July to reflect that destruction charges may be applicable when additional information is not, or is unable to be, provided for unclaimed items.  

Complying with our sending standards 

We know how important it is to get your parcels delivered first time, so when sending parcels, please make sure you understand and comply with our sending standards: 

1. Follow correct addressing guidelines and ensure contact details on the label are valid and legible. 
2. To ensure your parcel arrives safely, follow our packaging guidelines. 
3. To avoid non-compliance charges, please ensure items are correctly ticketed and meet size and weight limitations. 

You can find out more about our standards at nzpost.co.nz/sendingstandards. 

Mail rates and services 

The decline in mail volume is continuing to significantly challenge the viability of providing mail services to and within New Zealand. While we are looking to reduce costs wherever possible, we need to continue to pursue all options possible to deliver a financially sustainable mail service. 

NZ Post has reached the end of Government funding support for mail services. In May 2020, it was announced that the Government was making available $130 million over three years to cover the projected financial losses resulting from volume decline. This funding has allowed NZ Post to continue to provide nationwide coverage for mail delivery at current service levels and with price increases lower than what they otherwise would have needed to be. 

Part of the intent of this funding was to provide time for the Government to work with NZ Post on the long-term plan for the mail service. The conclusion of this review was the Government required NZ Post to transition to a mail business that is financially viable long-term. Rather than moving quickly to a “commercial” model that will break even, to lessen the impact on customers, postal workers, and people that rely on mail, a transition will occur over a few years. 

In addition to price increases, NZ Post will be making changes to the business to achieve the necessary cost reductions that will help achieve a financially viable long-term state. 

However, there are currently no plans to change the mail delivery service (nationwide delivery, currently three days per week in urban areas and five days per week in Rural areas and five-six days per week for delivery to PO Boxes). So, the existing services will continue unless otherwise advised. 

The increases to be applied on 1 July 2023 are summarised below. For more information or guidance on these upcoming changes, please don’t hesitate to contact your Business Manager or contact us online. 

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Standard Mail

We are increasing the price of Standard Mail letter products. New prices will apply from 1 July 2023. The new prices are set out below and all prices are shown in NZD (excluding GST).

Size	Standard Mail	ReplyPaid
Medium – Approved (ReplyPaid Only)	-	$1.6522
Medium	$1.7391	$1.7391
Large	$2.8696	$2.8696
Oversize	$4.0000	$4.0000

Please refer to the Standard Mail Rate Card (PDF - 60KB) for pricing. New prices will apply from 1 July 2023.

International Bulk Mail

The following changes to our Bulk Mail products will take effect on 1 July 2023:

• Price increases will be applied to all Bulk Mail services.  The increases will vary across the rate cards, with most customers expected to receive an average increase of around 30%.
• New specifications for Adcard font size and style will apply.
• New charges will apply to bulk mail lodgements that do not meet the necessary machinability specifications, as an option to progress with the lodgement rather than have the lodgement rejected. These charges are:
  • A Manual Handling Fee for lodgements where approval prior to lodgement has been obtained, of $0.30 per item
  • A Manual Handling Fee for lodgements where approval prior to lodgement has not been obtained, of $0.45 per item.

Information on changes to Bulk Mail products will be available in the International Commercial Postal Users’ Guide from 1 July 2023.

Bulk Mail Rate Card

New pricing will be introduced for all Bulk Mail products. Please refer to the International Bulk Mail Rate Card (PDF - 60KB) for pricing. New prices will apply from 1 July 2023.

Envelope Layout Standards

There are no significant changes to the Domestic and International Inbound Bulk Mail Envelope Layout Standards. There is a minor clarification to AdCard font and style. For full details of the revised product specifications in the Domestic and International Inbound Bulk Mail Envelope Layout Standards, refer to our Envelope Layout Standards (PDF - 4.5MB).

Bulk Mail chart

There are no changes to the Bulk Mail Chart, which will be published prior to 1 July 2023.

Zonal Pricing

Zonal Pricing is a pricing structure that applies to all Bulk Mail products and charges different prices for mail deliveries to different areas.

Every New Zealand postcode containing delivery points has been allocated to one of four “Zones”; Zone A, Zone B, Zone C and Zone D. Each of these zones has a different price. 

In addition to the above Zonal Pricing, a separate pricing tier applies to any items with incorrect or missing postcodes. This pricing tier is called IPC (Invalid Postcode). More information on Zonal Pricing and IPC terms and conditions is available under the AdCard, FlexiMail, Publication Mail and VolumeMail sections in the Postal Users' Guide.

NZ Post Bulk Mail Zones

NZ Post Bulk Mail Zones (XLS - 100KB)*

Bulk mail zones are defined by postcode. They are defined for the purpose of determining prices for bulk mail lodged as AdCard, FlexiMail, Publication Mail and VolumeMail.

*The NZ Post Bulk Mail Zones list provides details of the postcode zone and delivery type for all valid postcodes in NZ.

Note: There are 3 listed postcodes that have no zonal mapping as they have no physical mail delivery points, i.e. all mail sent to those postcodes should be addressed to the PO Box Lobby within the postcode. These are highlighted in yellow in the PDF. 

If you wish to obtain a csv version of the Zonal Postcode list, please contact [email protected] 

For more information on Bulk Mail Zonal Pricing, please refer to the International Commercial Postal Users’ Guide.

Zonal Pricing Rates

Zonal Pricing rates across AdCard, FlexiMail, publication Mail and VolumeMail can be found on the International Bulk Mail Rate Card.

Billing

Your statements will provide a breakdown of how many pieces of mail are sent to each zone for every lodgement and the associated price. 

For any billing enquiries, please contact your mailhouse or NZ Post Business Manager.

See our questions and answers for more information.

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PO Boxes and Private Bags

PO Box  

The cost to rent a PO Box will increase from 1 July 2023 (effective on your renewal anniversary date) by the following amounts: 

Increase from 1 July 2023: 

Lobby type	5 day Small   (incl. GST)	6 day Small   (incl. GST)	5 day Large   (incl. GST)	6 day Large   (incl. GST)
Priority	$5.00	$5.00	$10.00	$15.00
Standard	$5.00	$5.00	$10.00	$15.00

 We offer the following types of mail sorting:  

• A five-day sort means your mail is sorted and delivered to your PO Box each weekday.  
• A six-day sort includes Saturdays (excluding public holidays).  

Both the five-day and six-day sort are location dependent. Returns Centre operates five-day only. 

Private Bags  

The cost to rent a Private Bag will increase by $80 (incl. GST) from 1 July 2023 to $480 per annum (including GST). 

Pricing - New (excl. GST)  

Segment	Lobby Type	5 Day Small	6 Day Small	5 Day Large	6 Day Large	5 Day Bag
Business	Priority	$230.43	$256.52	$286.96	$343.48	-
Business	Standard	$217.39	$243.48	$273.91	$330.43	-
Private Bag	Priority	-	-	-	-	$417.39
Private Bag	Standard	-	-	-	-	$417.39

Returns Centre (virtual box lobby) 

If you are a customer who uses the NZ Post Returns Centre, we’d like to remind you to update your return address from Laurence Stevens Drive to Returns Centre (within the suburb field). When we transitioned to the Returns Centre, we provided a 12-month grace period to update your return address. From 1 September 2023, we reserve right to charge an administration fee where the correct address is not used. Using this correct address is important, as non-compliance can impact streaming and delay delivery.