Post Office Boxes have been in use in NZ since the late 1860s, primarily through NZ Post. Since postal deregulation in the 1990s, a couple of alternative mail operators have offered alternative to NZ Post’s PO Boxes. Today, Private Box is the main alternative that remains.
Here’s how the services compare…
NZ Post – PO Box
The NZ Post PO Box is all physical. You apply for a PO Box at your local NZ Post outlet, get a physical key, and need to travel to your PO Box to collect new mail. It is possible to get email notifications of new mail arriving, so you don’t waste time travelling to your PO Box to check it.
Signup requirements
- Application in person
- Photo ID
Pros
- Control over the address
- Can setup a redirection to forward mail to another address
Cons
- Can’t receive parcels from all courier companies (only CourierPost)
- Non-refundable annual fee
Private Box – Virtual Address
The Private Box Virtual Address is primarily accessed online. You apply online (start here), and can choose from PO Box or Street addresses in NZ. You can have mail scanned, forwarded to your current location, or securely destroyed if you don’t need it.
Signup requirements
- Application online
- Photo ID
- Selfie video
Pros
- All online – manage your mail, like you manage your email
- Scan mail to PDF
- Add automatic mail processing rules
- Forward mail to different addresses – great for travelers
- No contracts, pay month-to-month, and close your account when you no longer need it
- Apply & manage mail while living outside of NZ
- 30-day trial
- Street addresses can receive parcels from all couriers
- Can use the address for registering a company
Cons
- Mail collection in person only available in Johnsonville, Wellington
Costs
NZ Post – PO Box
| Personal | Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Rental | $170-$285/year | $185-$300/year |
| Forwarding (Redirection) Cost within a year | $17-$200 | $130-$955 |
| Collecting Mail | Value of Your Time | Cost of Staff Time |
| Scanning Mail | Not Available | |
| PDF to email | Not Available | |
| Business Registration Address | Not Available | |
| Mail processing frequency | 5 or 6 days/week | |
| Total Average Cost | ~$210/year + 50hrs of your time | ~$330/year + 78hrs of staff time |
Private Box – Virtual Address
| Personal | Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Rental | $125-$152/year | $299-$364/year |
| Forwarding Cost | Depends on volume & mail service (standard post or courier) | |
| Collecting Mail | Value of Your Time | Cost of Staff Time |
| Scanning Mail | 5 Free Automatic Scans per month. Then starts at $0.80 per letter | |
| PDF to email | Free | |
| Business Registration Address | Not Available | $232/year |
| Mail processing frequency | 5 days/week | |
| Total Average Cost | ~$150 | ~$250/year |