Going on holiday? Hold your mail
We can hold your mail for up to 12 weeks so you can get it all when you come back.
Going on holiday? Hold your mail
We can hold your mail for up to 12 weeks so you can get it all when you come back.
How to apply for a hold
Apply online at least 4 working days before you want the hold to start.
1. Verify details & ID
Log in to your NZ Post account (or create a new account –it’s easy and free). Verify your personal details with either an NZ Passport, NZ Drivers License or RealMe.
2. Enter hold details
Enter the dates you want us to hold your mail for (from 7 days to 12 weeks) and pay the hold fee by credit or debit card. The minimum hold period is 7 days.
3. Get confirmation
We'll send you an email confirmation once the request has been submitted. It takes 4 working days if you applied online, or 6 if done at an NZ Post retail outlet.
Away for longer than 12 weeks?
If you're going away or moving somewhere for longer than 12 weeks, you may prefer to use our Redirect my mail service where your mail will be redirected to your new address, temporarily or permanently.
What items will you hold for me?
We hold mail addressed to an address, not to a person's name. More about the items we hold in terms and conditions.
Letters and standard mail
We hold NZ Post mail items only. This doesn’t include mail, such as hospital appointments, that you may receive through other mail providers like DX Mail.
Mail under 3 kg
We can only hold NZ Post mail items under 3 kg. Items over 3 kg are handled by couriers. You can redirect a courier parcel in the tracking tool.
No courier parcels
We can only hold NZ Post mail items – not courier items. Couriers manage these items. To redirect a courier parcel, you can use the Tracking tool.
Hold service fees
| Duration |
Apply online (save 30%) |
Apply at an NZ Post store |
| Up to 2 weeks |
Household: $10.50 |
Household: $16.40 |
| Up to 3 weeks |
Household: $16.50 |
Household: $24.70 |
| Up to 4 weeks |
Household: $22.50 |
Household: $33.00 |
| Up to 5 weeks |
Household: $28.50 |
Household: $41.10 |
| Up to 6 weeks |
Household: $34.50 |
Household: $49.40 |
| Up to 7 weeks |
Household: $39.00 |
Household: $57.70 |
| Up to 8 weeks |
Household: $45.00 |
Household: $66.00 |
| Up to 9 weeks |
Household: $51.00 |
Household: $74.10 |
| Up to 10 weeks |
Household: $57.00 |
Household: $82.40 |
| Up to 11 weeks |
Household: $63.00 |
Household: $90.70 |
| Up to 12 weeks |
Household: $69.00 |
Household: $99.00 |
- Hold my mail fees include GST and 30% discount when applying online.
- Not-for-profit organisations, Charitable Trusts, Personal and Family Trusts, societies and schools are entitled to the Hold my mail service at the household/individual price, where this can be verified.
- The system will register your age from your New Zealand driver licence, New Zealand passport or RealMe authentication.
- An amendment or extension to a Hold my mail service is charged at the household/individual price, even if you are a senior citizen.
- If you cancel a Hold that you've paid for before it starts, you can get a full refund.
- If you cancel a Hold that has already started, and has more than a month to run, you may be eligible for a partial refund.
Holding business mail
Find out how to apply for a business mail hold, what the fees are and how it works.
Frequently asked questions
You can cancel or extend your hold my mail service at any time during the hold period
Holds set up online
These can be cancelled or extended both online or at your NZ Post retail outlet.
Holds set up at an NZ Post retail outlet
These can only be cancelled or extended at your NZ Post retail outlet.
Want to change the hold?
If you decide to return early or stay away longer, you can amend your hold to reflect the new date of your return. We'll need 4 working days’ notice to action any amendment or cancellation requests.
If you have paid for a hold my mail service request and cancelled it before it starts, you are eligible for a refund. Please call us for further details.
Mail delivery will resume at your address & any mail that has been held will be delivered on the first day of your normal mail service.
You shouldn’t be receiving mail if your mail hold has started. The items you are receiving may be ones our hold my mail service doesn’t apply to. If you are still receiving NZ Post mail items, please call us and we will look into this as soon as possible.
You can put your mail on hold so that you don't have to worry about your mailbox overflowing while you're away. You can do this by simply logging into your NZ Post account, or at your local NZ Post retail outlet.
The hold my mail service enables you to hold all mail sent by NZ Post.
If you receive mail (e.g. hospital appointments) through other mail providers such as DX Mail, please contact them to also hold your mail.
Before you start
To apply online, you will need the following:
- NZ Post online account.
- Either a NZ Driver Licence, NZ Passport or a RealMe Id.
- Credit/Debit card to pay the service fee.
- Please allow 4 working days before you want the hold to start.
To apply in-store, you will need the following:
- Either a NZ Driver Licence, NZ Passport, Kiwi Access Card, Certificate of Identity or a NZ Firearms Licence.
- Credit/Debit card or cash to pay the service fee.
- Please allow 6 working days before you want the hold to start.
All mail addressed to the address is held regardless of the name on the mail. It is not possible to hold mail for yourself or anyone else.
Hold terms and fees
We can hold your mail from a minimum of 7 days up to a maximum of 12 weeks.
Mail hold is free for senior citizens (65+ years) up to 4 weeks.
Visit the Hold my mail for information about fees for the Hold my Mail service.
Next steps
If you have applied online, we will notify you by email whether it has been accepted, rejected or cancelled.
If your application was completed at an NZ Post retail outlet, we will only phone you if it has been rejected or cancelled.
Making changes
You can amend or cancel your hold my mail service at any time during the Hold period, both online or at your local NZ Post Store.
If you decide to return early or stay away longer, you can amend your hold to reflect the new date of your return. We'll need 4 working days notice to action any amendment or cancellation requests.
Expiry of the hold period
At the end of the hold period, mail delivery will resume at your address. Any mail that has been held will be delivered on the first day of your normal mail service.
Legal information
Held mail cannot be accessed for the duration of the Hold Service term.
New Zealand Post reserves the right to accept, reject or cancel your Hold Service at any time. You will receive an email to confirm that your Hold request has been accepted, rejected or cancelled, if you submitted your Hold request online. If you've put your mail on hold at your local NZ Post retail outlet and we have rejected or cancelled your Hold request, we will notify you by phone.
We will use reasonable care and skill in providing the Hold service, but to the maximum extent permitted by law, New Zealand Post's liability for any loss or damage however caused in providing this service is limited to refunding the fee (if any) you have paid us for the service.
For further details on our terms for the Hold service, please read the full Terms and Conditions.