PO Box and Private Bag services (virtual) - terms and conditions

1. Which Terms Apply. These Terms for your ‘virtual’ PO Box or Private Bag provided by NZ Post and the ancillary services related to it, together with your Application for the Box service, forms a “Box Contract” which is part of your agreement with us and must be read in conjunction with it. By using the Service, you accept all the terms and conditions that apply to the use of the Service. If there is any inconsistency between the Box Contract and your agreement with us, the Box Contract will take precedence in relation to the Box services. In these Terms, “Box” is used to refer to the virtual PO Box or Private Bag at our premises allocated for your use, and the related ancillary services you have asked to use.

2. Changing the Terms. We may change any term of these Terms by giving you at least 30 days’ written notice. If you do not agree with the new term(s), you may terminate the Box service from the effective date of the changed Box Contract, by giving us written notice before that date. If you terminate your Box Contract under this clause 2, we will refund a proportionate amount of the service fee to you within 10 working days after the termination date. If you do not give termination notice before the effective date of the change, you are deemed to have accept the new terms.

3. No Personal Access to Box. Your Box is not accessible for personal clearance. If personal access is required for a party other than NZ Post, you will be required to establish an alternate address. NZ Post can facilitate the redirection of any mail received at your Box to your alternate address (charges may apply).

4. Notices. Any notice to you under this Box Contract is sufficiently given if delivered to the email address we hold as part of your Contract, or to your Box or the physical billing address you have provided, at our option. Any notice to us must be delivered to us by email to [email protected] or by post to Box/Bag Administration, PO Box 38817, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045, or by contacting your Business Manager.

5. Fees, Charges. The service fee for the Box is payable annually in advance and is not refundable except upon termination by you under clause 2. All ancillary fees are payable monthly in arrears. The current service fee and ancillary fees are set out in your agreement with us or can be obtained from your Business Manager. We may change the amount of any fees or impose new fees if we give you 30 days’ written notice of the change. You may also be charged for outstanding postage and any administration charges on unpaid or shortpaid items delivered to your Box.

6. Authorisation. to Act for You By requesting the Box as set out in your Application and the ancillary services in your agreement with us (or as later varied), you authorise us to act as your agent to accept signature required items, and to open, destroy, dispose of and/ or return items, delivered to your Box, as required to provide the ancillary services requested.

7. Term of Contract. The term of the Box Contract is 12 months from the date the Box is allocated to you. At the end of that term, the Box Contract automatically renews for a further 12 month term, unless terminated by either party by notice to the other at least 30 days before the term renews.

8. Termination by Us. We may, by giving you written notice, terminate the Box Contract immediately or on the date specified in that notice:
a. if we believe on reasonable grounds that your Box is being used for illegal activities;
b. if you don’t pay the service fees, or any other fee or charge payable under the Box Contract, by the due date;
c. if you don’t comply with any other obligation under the Box Contract; or d. if there is a dispute as to the entitlement of any person to receive the mail delivered to a Box, and the dispute is not resolved within 30 days of us being made aware of the dispute.

9. What Happens to Your Mail. If you terminate the Box Contract under clause 2 or 7, all mail addressed to your Box that we receive after the date of termination will, unless otherwise agreed, immediately be returned to sender. If we are unable to return the mail to the sender, it may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of at your cost.

10. If we terminate the Box Contract, all mail addressed to your Box that we receive after the date of termination will be treated as follows:
a. upon termination under clause 7, 8b, or 8c, unless otherwise agreed, mail will be held at the International Mail Centre for 30 days from the date of termination. Any mail uncollected, and all mail received, after this period will be returned to sender. If we are unable to return the mail to sender, it may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of at your cost; or
b. upon termination under clause 8a or 8d, mail will immediately be returned to sender, or dealt with in accordance with relevant legislation. If we are unable to return the mail to sender, it may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of at your cost.

11. Disputes Over Mail. If there is a dispute as to the entitlement of any person in regard to mail delivered to your Box, we may hold the mail for that Box until the dispute is resolved, and/or may terminate the Box Contract under clause 8d.

12. Resuming Service Later. If you want to resume a Box service after the Box Contract has expired or been terminated, you will be required to enter into a new contract and may not necessarily be allocated the same Box address.

13. Pick Up and Delivery Service. A Pick Up and Delivery service can be arranged for an additional fee. Your Box will be cleared and delivered in a mail bag. Charges are set based on the number of mail bags ordered for the regular service. Any items that are too large for the mail bag will be delivered by courier at your applicable rate.

Note: Different terms apply to our physical PO Box and Private Bag service. Refer to nzpost.co.nz/terms-conditions for these.