Courier, Express, Transport
You will have received a letter or email from us to notify you of the price increase and what this means for your business. If you haven’t received a letter or email, please contact your Business Manager or contact us.
Last year was a particularly challenging time for all of us. Facing extended lockdowns, we worked incredibly hard to keep parcels moving through our network – upscaling our operations to deliver over 2.4m items each week during this period.
As we continue to adapt and evolve our business to reflect the changing market, we are subject to a variety of changing cost components, including increased labour costs, investment in new technology and operational sites and our continued focus on health and safety. Our price increase this year reflects the increased costs we are facing.
TCC needs to be viewed independently and will be only applied if additional costs are incurred relating to events beyond our control.
With the growth of eCommerce and increased deliveries to residential address points, our cost to deliver Signature items has increased steadily. Additionally, some customer segments have enjoyed low rates implemented due to various sales campaigns over the years. Some of those customers will be subject to a rate correction on 1 July.
As the distribution of products delivered by our rural network changes, we continue to review our cost structures and delivery modes in order to maintain a high level of service to our customers. As a result of these reviews, the rural delivery price in some customer segments with be subject to a rates correction on 1 July.
International Outbound
We need to continuously review our infrastructure and processes in line with the evolving environment. We are subject to a variety of changing cost components, including increased supplier costs, labour costs, investment in new technology and our continued focus on health and safety.
A letter with a new pricing schedule outlining your new rates will be posted to you. If you have not received this, please contact your Business Manager or contact us.
International Surcharges will be in place until the airfreight capacity is back to normal and remain subject to change. As the spread of COVID-19 continues, and we are still experiencing airfreight capacity shortage and high demand of moving goods across borders.
As demand for online shopping continues to grow, there has been an increasing number of ‘Undeliverable’ returns items in our network. There is a cost to return an item (to the sender or country of origin) – a cost that NZ Post was originally absorbing, but it is no longer sustainable to do so.
Various reasons from:
- Incorrect addressing and / or labelling
- Receivers refusing to pay for Customs fees and / or tax
- Or an item being left or unclaimed
Please note, we rely on the postal administration to manage the reasons for the return and may not be able to provide additional information as to why the item was returned.
Accurately address your items, as well as using a Tracked service to give your customers complete visibility of its parcel over the course of its journey.
PO Box
From 1 July2022, the annual rental fee for our PO Boxes will increase by different amounts depending on the size and type. The following table shows the increases:
| Lobby type |
5 day Small (inc. GST) |
6 day Small (inc. GST) |
5 day Large (inc. GST) |
6 day Large (inc. GST) |
| Priority | $10.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $20.00 |
| Standard | $10.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $20.00 |
Private Bags will increase by $25 (incl. GST) to $400p.a. (incl. GST).
To continue providing PO Box and Private Bag services nationwide at over 650 convenient, safe and secure locations, we need to continuously review our infrastructure and processes.
As we continue to adapt our PO Box network to reflect the changing market, we are also subject to a variety of changing cost components - including increased labour costs, property prices and our continued focus and investment on health and safety.
While we are always looking to reduce costs wherever possible, we need to continue to pursue all options possible to help deliver a sustainable service for New Zealand into the future.
The new annual rental fee will apply from 1 July 2022. However, if you are an existing box holder, the new prices will apply at the time of your next annual renewal (for the avoidance of doubt, annual renewals that become due prior to 1 July 2022 will renew at the current rate).
If you pay by direct debit, the price increase will be spread evenly across your quarterly direct debit payments from your first payment following 1 July 2022. Details of your specific increase have been sent to you by letter.
Standard Mail
The following Standard Mail products will have a price increase that will apply from 1 July 2022:
- Standard Mail
- Standard Mail letter prices across New Zealand will increase by 20 cents (incl. GST)*. This means that the medium sized letter will increase to $1.70 (incl. GST) and the large and oversize letters will also increase by 20 cents to $3.00 and $4.30 respectively
- ReplyPaid
- Prepaid Envelopes. The price increase of some PrePaid envelopes may vary
- Business Mail Centre Services
Please refer to the Standard Mail Rate Card (PDF 49KB) for pricing. New prices will apply from 1 July 2022.
We don’t recommend using multiple KiwiStamps for larger letters as the value of KiwiStamps will be increasing from 1 July 2022 to $1.70 each, which means, if you use multiple KiwiStamps, you’d be paying more than required. For larger letters, our recommendation is to use a KiwiStamp, plus a stamp of a fixed denomination to add up to the postage value you need. E.g. The cost to post a Standard Mail Large envelope is $3.00, if you use 2 x KiwiStamps, you’d be paying $3.40. By using 1 x KiwiStamp ($1.70) plus other stamps to the value of $1.30, you save 40 cents.
Bulk Mail
Bulk Mail is a category of mass mailing that meets specific criteria, including a minimum item lodgement which enables efficient processing, and as a result, attracts reduced pricing. Bulk Mail includes the following products: AdCard, FlexiMail, Publication Mail and VolumeMail. It is usually (but not always) produced on behalf of an organisation by a specialist mailhouse that deals with large or complex mailings.
Zonal Pricing is our pricing structure that applies to all Bulk Mail products and charges different prices for mail delivered to different areas. Four pricing zones (A-D) are defined by postcodes and each zone has a different delivery price. Zonal Pricing applies to AdCard, FlexiMail VolumeMail, and Publication Mail products. A fifth tier (IPC) applies to items sent with an invalid postcode.
You may download the NZ Post Bulk Mail Zones (.xlsx 74KB).
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 Bulk Mail Zones list you may convert the spreadsheet provided above, or please contact [email protected].
You are required to submit a Lodgement Data File with each physical VolumeMail, AdCard, FlexiMail and Publication Mail lodgement via the online ‘Lodgement Manager’ system.
The key points to note are as follows:
- Zonal Pricing covers all Bulk Mail products: AdCard, FlexiMail, VolumeMail and Publication Mail. Each zone has a different price.
- A feature of Lodgement Manager enables you to upload the Lodgement Data File automatically through an API process.
The Lodgement Data File contains addressing information of each mail item in an AdCard, VolumeMail, FlexiMail or Publication Mail product postal lodgement. This file is integrated at lodgement time by NZ Post.
The postcode for each mail item (based on the addressing information supplied in the Lodgement Data File) is assessed to determine which zone applies to that mail item and the total cost of postage is then calculated on that basis. Note that mail items that do not have a postcode, or that have an incorrect postcode, will be considered invalid postcode (IPC) items and will be charged the highest price point.
A Lodgement Data File (LDF) is required to be submitted for all Bulk Mail services to ensure the Address Accuracy Percentage (AAP) process functions properly.
Having a high Address Accuracy Percentage (AAP) and ensuring all addresses have a correct postcode included is the best way to ensure your lodgement is charged at the lowest price. The destination of the mail items will determine the final price.
Being able to supply the Lodgement Data File (LDF) will give you access to the most competitive mail rates. In most cases, this should be a simple task to complete. However, you require access to Lodgement Manager to lodge Bulk Mail. Please contact [email protected] for access and support.
Each Bulk Mail lodgement is assessed using the Postal Address File standards and valid postcodes. An AAP is calculated to determine the Bulk Mail pricing tier to be applied. Items with invalid postcodes (IPC) will be excluded from the AAP assessment to avoid a double pricing penalty.
AdCard lodgements must have an AAP rating of >80% to qualify for Bulk Mail pricing.
IPC is an abbreviation for invalid postcode and is a separate pricing tier for all Bulk Mail rate cards. When lodging AdCard, FlexiMail, VolumeMail and Publication Mail lodgements, all mail items with missing or invalid postcodes will be charged at the IPC price.
Mail items that do not include postcodes will, by default, be charged the highest cost delivery tier (IPC). Having a high Address Accuracy Percentage (AAP) and ensuring all addresses have a correct postcode included is the best way to ensure your lodgement is charged at the lowest feasible price applicable to your mail item. The destination of the mail items will determine the final price.
Once you have uploaded the Lodgement Data File (LDF) into Lodgement Manager, along with the normal lodgement information (e.g. product and volume), the system will calculate the volume for each zone and assign the correct pricing for the lodgement. It’s important to note that, as there will be no identifiable customer data being shared with us, there are no privacy or security concerns for your customers.
You can use the Bulk Mail rate card and Zonal Pricing information to estimate the cost of postage for a lodgement. We have developed a system for files to be submitted electronically by saving but not submitting the file, allowing you to determine postage costs under the Zonal Pricing structure. Once you have submitted your lodgement, the saved file can be deleted.
No, Zonal Pricing charges will be determined by the zone that the Bulk Mail items are being sent to (the destination). Zonal Pricing charges are not based on the origin of the item.
AAP will be a price differentiator on the Bulk Mail Rate Card (PDF 65KB). All Zonal (A, B, C & D) pricing is differentiated by AAP tiers. However, all mail items with missing or invalid post codes will be charged at the same IPC price relative to the product and size rather than the AAP tier.
Yes, the ability to upload files in Lodgement Manager is available for you to test your files.
International items should be lodged separately from Domestic Bulk Mail. However, since 1 February 2021, International outbound mail included in your Domestic Bulk Mail lodgements can be detected and uprated to the International Full rate. The international product in the physical lodgement must be lodged at the end of the last tray separate from domestic product to avoid any delays in delivery.
Publication Mail lodgements made after 5pm on weekdays, or at any time on a weekend or public holiday by prior arrangement with your local Mail Service Centre Manager, will be charged a flat rate fee of $0.28 (excl. GST) per item in addition to the normal card rate fee applicable to the lodgement. Further details for the Publication Mail product can be found in the Postal Users’ Guide.
Publication Mail lodgements that include a sample, in accordance with the Publication Mail product specifications, will be charged a flat rate sample fee of $0.40 (excl GST) per item in addition to the normal card rate fee applicable to the lodgement. The Publication Mail Sample fee applies if a sample is included with a publication and this takes the combined thickness into the 20mm–32mm range. Further details for the Publication Mail Sample product can be found in the Postal Users’ Guide.
Please contact your Business Manager or our [email protected] for assistance.