Postal legislation
In 1998, the Postal Services Act removed New Zealand Post's statutory monopoly on the carriage of letters, opening up the market to full competition.
Postal Services Act 1998
Find out more about the deregulation of the New Zealand postal market.
The most significant regulatory responsibility for New Zealand Post came into force on 1 April 1998 with the enactment of the Postal Services Act 1998
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The Act deregulated the New Zealand postal market by removing New Zealand Post's monopoly on delivery of the standard letter.
Under the Act, anyone can process and deliver mail, at any cost, as long as they registered as a postal operator with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment . There are currently over 25 individual postal operators, including New Zealand Post, registered on the Ministry's register of postal operators.
The Act requires every postal operator to identify the mail they carry by marking items with a 'postal identifier' – a stamp, marking or impression that is unique to each operator and clearly represents to the public which operator has carried the item.
2022 Deed of Amendment
The 2018 Deed of Amendment provided for a review of the terms of the Deed to be completed by 1 March 2021. On 30 March 2022, New Zealand Post and the Crown agreed to extend the date for completion of a review by no later than 30 June 2024.
Read the Deed of Amendment (PDF - 6MB).
2018 Deed of Amendment
The 2013 Deed of Amendment and Restatement provided for a review of the terms of the Deed to be completed by 1 November 2018. On 30 October 2018, New Zealand Post and the Crown agreed to extend the date for a scheduled review out until 1 March 2021.
Read the Deed of Amendment (PDF - 205KB).
2013 Deed of Understanding (Deed of Amendment and Restatement)
Compliance with the Deed is monitored by means of information disclosure regulations. The Deed requires New Zealand Post to continue to provide a universal postal service.
Read the Deed of Amendment and Restatement (PDF - 4.7MB) between New Zealand Post and the Crown. This amends and restates the Principal Deed (see the 1998 Deed of Understanding).
1998 Deed of Understanding
Compliance with the Deed is monitored by means of information disclosure regulations. The Deed requires New Zealand Post to continue to provide a universal postal service.
Read the 1998 Deed of Understanding (PDF - 14KB) between New Zealand Post and the Crown and the 15 December 2010 variation (PDF - 96KB).
The Postal Services (Information Disclosure) Regulations 1998
were introduced in May 1998 to facilitate competition in the postal services market and ensure compliance with the Deed of Understanding.
The regulations require New Zealand Post to disclose certain information to the public, including terms and conditions of our products and services and access agreements with other postal operators.
Under the regulations, New Zealand Post Limited is also required to disclose the following information in its annual report:
- the number of delivery points in each of the categories specified in the Deed;
- the number of post centres and post shops at the close of each financial year;
- in relation to the delivery of letters within New Zealand, the results of an independent survey on the percentage of letters delivered within advertised deadlines, the percentage delivered within three days of advertised deadlines, and the percentage not delivered within three days of advertised deadlines; and
- separate profit and loss statements for letters carried within New Zealand for less than 80 cents (the previously reserved area); and other services.
Disclosure information
View our current disclosure information, or browse the archive.
Access Agreements
Read our current access agreements with other postal operators.
Annual Reports
Access electronic versions of our Annual Reports back to 2000