NZ Post is about delivery – delivering parcels, packages and mail for businesses and consumers. NZ Post provides a cost-effective delivery solution across New Zealand.
Benefits of using New Zealand Post
Renowned provider
Great serviceability New Zealand wide
Access to Shippit's competitive rates
Services available
Shippit partner account:
NZPost domestic courier (CPOLE) = Shippit standard service level
NZPost Express (CPOLP) = Shippit express service level
BYO account:
NZPost domestic courier (CPOLE) = Shippit standard service level
NZPost Express (CPOLP) = Shippit express service level
Signature and authority to leave services are available with New Zealand Post.
💡NOTE: New Zealand Post services are available for domestic shipments within New Zealand only. To be eligible to use a New Zealand Post services service, you must have a registered New Zealand entity address in your Shippit account.
Serviceability
NZPost standard is an inter-island service only, delivering within 2-3 days.
NZPost express is available nationwide, usually delivering overnight.
Compatibility
Refer to our Carrier Services for full compatibility, limitations, and restrictions.
For a full list of restrictions on the New Zealand Post network, please see their website.
| NZPost standard service | NZPost express service |
Max dead weight | 25kg | 25kg |
Max cubic weight | 0.125m³ | 0.125m³ |
Max length | 1.5m | 1.5m |
NZPost services are suitable for:
Small consumer goods and ecommerce products
Satchels and small cartons
Goods under 25kg and 1.5m in length
Limited dangerous goods with prior approval
Alcohol with prior approval
Pharmaceutical products with prior approval (signature service only)
NZPost services are not suitable for:
Bulky or palletised freight
Loose freight (e.g unpackaged goods)
Unapproved dangerous goods
Prohibited, restricted, and dangerous goods
Below is a current list of goods accepted in the NZPost network however this is subject to change. For the most up-to-date information please always refer to their website.
Prohibited goods
Ammunition and weapons
Bleaches and poisons
Batteries and corrosives
Combustion engines, fuel powered engines, and car parts
Compressed gas
Compressed air
Fire extinguishers
Gas cylinders, such as those used for camping, either full or empty
Oxygen cylinders including compressed air
Paint guns
Shock absorbers, either gas or compressed air
Unapproved dangerous goods or any item that is capable, as packaged, of causing injury to people or damage to property, such as IATA listed items
Explosives and fireworks
Flammable gas
Matches and lighters
Aerosol cans, such as hairspray, and deodorant
Air bags, such as used for cars
Alarm devices, either gas or battery powered
Gas, such as propane, butane, hydrogen, and helium
Flammable liquids and flammable solids
Fragile items, regardless of how it is packaged
Illegal items
Animals except correctly packaged live organisms, such as bees, leeches, silkworms and harmless insects
Medicines or controlled drugs
First aid kits
Furs and skins (untreated)
Human or animal remains, including ashes, body parts, and placentas
Indecent goods
Magnets or magnetic material, including fridge magnets and compasses
Vaping and ecigarette paraphernalia
Perishable goods, including any item that may spoil or decay, or has an expiry date of less than 6 months from the date of sending
Valuables
Bank, such as debit, EFTPOS or credit cards, and gift cards
Bullion, coins, currency, traveller’s cheques, bonds and shares
Collectables, antiques, paintings, sculpture or other works of art
Jewellery, precious metals or stones, watches
Keys and personal affects
Negotiable instruments, including bearer securities, bills of exchange, or cheques
Numismatic items
Passports and national ID cards
Original copies of other identity, travel, ownership or legal documents
Stamps (unused)
Vouchers, activated cards (loaded with monetary value), tickets for games of chance, event tickets
Restricted goods
All restricted goods must be pre-approved by Shippit and the carrier prior to shipping.
Limited dangerous goods
Alcohol
Pharmaceutical products (signature service only)
Dangerous goods
Always check the latest restrictions on their website for the most up-to-date information before sending any item.
All dangerous goods must be pre-approved by Shippit and the carrier prior to activation and shipping. For more information about shipping dangerous goods, including information about getting approval, see the shipping dangerous goods article.
Dangerous goods not accepted in the NZPost network
Class 1.1-1.6 Explosives:
Fireworks, flares, ammunition
Class 2 Gases:
Lighter fuel, aerosols, compressed gases, tear gas
Class 3 Flammable liquids:
Petrol, paint, solvents, alcohol, perfume
Class 4 Flammable solids:
Matches, sulphur
Class 5.1-5.2 Oxidising substances and organic peroxides:
Bleach, hair bleach, some adhesives
Class 6.1-6.2 Toxic and infectious substances:
Poisons, pesticides, blood samples
Class 7 Radioactive materials:
Except in exempted quantities
Class 8 Corrosives:
Acids, wet car batteries, mercury
Accepted dangerous goods in the NZPost network
These goods are accepted in limited quantities, on specific services.
Class 9 Miscellaneous dangerous goods and lithium batteries (UN3480/3481 and UN 3090/3091)
Specific types and quantities can be sent with strict packaging and forms, such as in certain electronic devices
Certain liquids
Liquids not classified as dangerous goods must be packaged to prevent leakage.
Class 7 Radioactive substances
Only allowed in exempted quantities, and only via Economy and Courier services
New Zealand Post rights and your liability
NZPost may open and inspect any item we suspect may be, or may contain, a prohibited item
If NZPost find a Prohibited item it will not be delivered and NZPost will not refund postage costs. NZPost are not obliged to return the item to you but may, at NZPost discretion and at your cost:
make the item safe; or
return the item to you by an appropriate means including charging the actual costs or administration fee for doing this; or
destroy the item; or
dispose of the item; or
deliver the item to the appropriate authorities.
If you send a Prohibited item, or Restricted item (where you have not met NZPost specified conditions of carriage):
NZPost may hold you liable for any costs or damages incurred by us;
NZPost may not cover you for any loss of, or damage to, the item;
You may be subject to penalties under the Postal Services Act 1998, the Civil Aviation Act 1990 and other legislation.
Packaging guidelines
Items should be wrapped in a way that will ensure safety for the delivery person and the customer. It is your responsibility to package items correctly. Packaging should comply with New Zealand consumer and transport laws.
For more information about packaging, see the recommended packaging guidelines article.
Surcharges
Charges that can be identified at the time of booking are included in the API quote at the time of booking however additional surcharges may apply for undeclared goods or special goods. For more information, see the Carrier surcharge article.
Insurance
Complimentary loss or damage insurance is not included when booking with NZPost through Shippit’s account.
If you have it included in your own BYO account, this will carry over with your BYO integration.
Alternatively, you can turn on Shippit Transit Protection to cover the retail value of your goods if lost or damaged during transit.
Pickup and collection
This section contains general information about pickup and collection with NZPost.
Collection
Depending on your shipping volume, your account will either be set up with regular pickups or ad hoc pickups. Indicative volumes for these setups are below:
Regular pickups
More than 10 packages daily or more than 200 a month
Daily pickups are scheduled with the carrier
Automatic pickup requests are not be sent to the carrier as your schedule will be locked in
Ad hoc pickups
Fewer than 10 packages daily or fewer than 200 a month
Daily pickups are not scheduled with the carrier
Automatic pickup requests are sent to the carrier upon manifesting
If orders are booked before 10am you usually receive collection same day, if not, collection will occur the following business day
Collection issues
Contact Shippit Support for any collection issues and our support team will engage with the carrier directly for assistance.
Cancelling orders
Cancel any orders directly from your Shippit account. This triggers a cancellation request to the carrier using an API call.
Collection timeframes
When orders are booked before 10am usually the driver will present the same day, if not, the following business day.
If you have scheduled collections in place your driver will present in your collection window as agreed to during activation.
Contacting drivers
You’re unable to contact drivers directly. Contact Shippit Support if you require support with collection.
Futile charges
If you do not have scheduled collections in place and the driver is unable to collect any goods, futile fees apply.
Rebooking collection
If you have scheduled collections in place there is no need to rebook a collection as the driver will collect missed packages on the next collection day.
If you do not have scheduled collections in place and have not booked any new orders for collection, contact Shippit Support for help with collection.
Getting pickup support
If you experience issues with collection, contact Shippit Support for assistance.
Delivery
This section contains general information about delivery with NZPost.
Alcohol deliveries
Valid 18+ ID must be provided by the receiver at the time of delivery. If the receiver does not have the appropriate ID, the order is returned to the depot for redelivery or returned to the sender.
Drivers must undertake specific training in order to deliver alcohol and they reserve the right to refuse delivery due to insufficient ID.
Authority to leave or safe drop is not available for alcohol deliveries.
Delivery choices
Signature
This service must be selected at the time of booking.
Parcels will not be delivered without a signature. If the customer is not home, the parcel will be returned to the depot for redelivery or dropped to a collection point.
Authority to leave
This service can be selected at the time of booking or during transit.
Refer to NZPost-leave-my-parcel for more information.
Proof of delivery
NZPost provides Proof of Delivery (POD) for all shipments and a photo POD for those delivered with ATL.
Shippit records a completed delivery when we receive a 'completed' scan from the carrier which is visible in our Shippit tracking. If your POD is not available please contact Shippit for assistance.
Redelivery
If the parcel receiver is not home to receive their parcel, the driver may return it to the depot for redelivery, or drop it to a collection point.
NZPost has over 300 Parcel Collect locations across New Zealand. This allows package receivers to pick up their packages where and when it suits them.
Redirection
A new delivery address can be requested when booking a redelivery. Refer to NZPost-redirection.
Return to sender
Contact Shippit Support if you require a return to sender. This is not possible if already with the driver for delivery.
Getting delivery help
If you experience issues with a delivery, contact Shippit Support for assistance.
Package receivers can click get help in their Shippit notification emails.
Activation
Shippit account
If you are shipping any type of restricted goods, you must have pre-approval before shipping with NZPost through Shippit. Contact the Shippit Configuration Team to get started.
Setting up a BYO account
To set up your BYO integration, contact the Shippit Configuration Team with your account details. You will need to have all of your carrier account credentials ready.
Our team will review your details and usually get back to you in 1-3 business days however BYO account activation can take 1-2 weeks to complete.