Labelling standards

Labelling or ticketing your parcels correctly ensures that they are processed and delivered as efficiently as possible.

Applying the correct labels or tickets

When creating a label or choosing pre-paid tickets for your parcel, you need to consider:

• The actual and volumetric weight of the parcel
• The size of the satchel or bag if you’re using one
• Where you’re sending the parcel from and to
• What add-on services you might need

Determine the correct weight for labels or tickets

It’s important to correctly determine your parcel’s actual or volumetric weight before creating a label or applying pre-paid tickets. The greater of the actual or volumetric weight is used as the parcel weight when creating a label or choosing pre-paid tickets.

How to calculate volumetric weight:

1. Measure the height, width and length of your parcel in metres
2. Multiply height (m) x width (m) x length (m) to get the volume (m³)
3. Multiply volume (m³) by your cubic conversion e.g. 200 to get the volumetric weight

For example:

• A parcel measures 0.5m height, 0.4m width, and 0.5m length and the actual weight is 10kg
• Volume m³ = 0.5m x 0.4m x 0.5m = 0.1m³
• Volumetric weight = 0.1m³ x 200 cubic conversion = 20kg

In this example, the volumetric weight of 20kg is greater than the actual weight of 10kg, so the parcel should either be labelled as 20kg or pre-paid tickets for 20kg should be applied.

Our pre-paid tickets have weight limits printed on them (e.g. up to 25kg or 0.125m3), however these may not be applicable to your business. Please refer to your pricing tables to understand your weight limits per ticket. Make sure you apply a single base ticket and excess tickets (if needed) to cover the weight of your parcel.

We have automated systems and processes in place to determine the actual and volumetric weight of your parcels during processing and check if the correct weight has been used for the labels or tickets applied. This allows us to accurately detect insufficient payments (‘under-ticketing’), and invoice you for the difference between what you paid and the actual price of the sending the parcel, plus a $5.50 excluding GST administration fee per parcel.

Make sure your label reflects the size of your Courier Pack

When using stationery-only Courier Packs or your own bag stationery, you must apply a courier label and the size declared on your label must reflect the size of the Pack or stationery. Courier Pack labels should not be applied to boxes.

The table below shows the maximum dimensions when using our Courier Packs or your own bag stationery with the appropriate Courier Pack label.

We have automated systems and processes in place to check that the size declared on the label matches the size of the parcel. This allows us to accurately detect insufficient payments (‘under-ticketing’), and invoice you for the difference between what you paid and the actual price of the sending the parcel, plus a $5.50 excluding GST administration fee per parcel.

Determine the correct sector when using pre-paid tickets

If you use pre-paid tickets, use our sector guides to find the right ticket colour depending on where you’re sending the parcel from and to. Choose the guide that matches where you’re sending your parcel from to understand which areas are covered by the following ticket types:

• Local
• Local Towns
• One Sector
• Two Sector
• Island to Island
• Island to Island Economy

We have processes in place to check that the correct sector tickets have been applied to your parcel. This allows us to accurately detect insufficient payments, and invoice you for the difference between what you paid and the actual price of sending the parcel, plus a $5.50 excluding GST administration fee per parcel.

Determine if you need add-on services

We have add-on services to meet the below sending needs. Make sure your label or ticket reflects the add-on services you need.

We have automated systems and processes in place to check if the correct labels and tickets have been applied. This allows us to accurately detect insufficient payments and invoice you for the difference between what you paid and the actual price of sending the parcel.

Creating labels

Please follow these standards when creating labels:

• Use a white background with black typed font
• Left align the address block and clearly mark the sender and receiver addresses (e.g. using To and From)
• Format your text in a single block and avoid using excessive spaces, blank lines, commas or punctuation
• Ideal label size is 174mm x 100mm
• Minimum font size is 6pt and we recommend using an easy-to-read font like Arial

Label or ticket positioning

Best practice: Labels or tickets should be clearly visible with no strapping or tape covering them.

Best practice

AVOID

AVOID

AVOID

1. Labels or tickets should appear clearly on your parcel.
2. Check the label isn’t obstructed by strapping.
3. Avoid applying sticky tape over the label.
4. If re-using packaging, remove or cover all old labels, tickets and barcodes

Place labels or tickets on the largest and flattest surface of your parcel. Make sure labels aren’t wrapping around any edges, or positioned over a flap, fold or seam in your packaging.

Best practice

AVOID

AVOID

1. Check the label or tickets is positioned on the largest surface of your parcel
2. Check the label or ticket is only visible on one side of the item and not on any edges.
3. Check the label is flat and don’t place it over the fold or flap of the packaging.

If you use a plastic sleeve or letter window, make sure the plastic isn’t too shiny. Reflective materials make it harder for our equipment to read your label.

AVOID

If you use a Courier Pack or your own stationery bag, place the label or ticket in the middle on the flattest surface.

Best practice