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
- Forward mail once per month for free in NZ
- No contracts, pay month-to-month, and close your account when you no longer need it
- Apply & manage mail while living outside of NZ
- 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 | $185-$375/year | $200-$375/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 | $190-$228/year | $490-$588/year |
| Forwarding Cost | 1 free forward via NZ courier per month. Otherwise just the cost of postage. | |
| 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 | 1 included (otherwise $232/yr per extra registered co.) |
| Mail processing frequency | 5 days/week | |
| Total Average Cost | ~$228 | ~$588/year |
What customers say about Private Box
Comments 10
WHY WOULD THE WESTPORT PO BOX OFFICER SEND MY MAIL BACK TO SENDER!!! THE FEE IS UP TO DATE, THE BOX HAS BEEN HELD BY US FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND OUR MAIL HAS BEEN RETURNED TO SENDER.
I believe this is a problem with NZ Post. You can contact them via https://www.nzpost.co.nz/contact-support or 0800 501 501.
We look after peoples mail (via real street addresses or PO Boxes) in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.
Hi,
I would like to hire NZ Post PO Box physical and get a key.
We live in Devonport. Can you write me if is possible to hire post PO BOX in Devonport or Takapuna ?
Thank you.
Kind regards
Alena
For a physical PO Box with a key will need to contact NZ Post.
We provide street addresses for mail in Auckland and Wellington as well as online PO Box services in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. For the PO Boxes we manage and clear them and you can access your mail online from anywhere in the world.
My PO Box is due to renew on 01/12/2021. How to cancel my PO box?
Please provide the website address if there is any .
Thanks
Hi Tinda,
We provide physical addresses to NZ and overseas based customers.
For a PO Box with a key you will need to contact NZ Post on 0800 501 501 or boxandbag@nzpost.co.nz.
Thanks,
Gareth
Good Morning
Just a question we have a P.O. Box in Alexandra and was wondering how we go about getting our box changed
to Cromwell Central Otago NZ.
For a physical PO Box with a key will need to contact NZ Post.
We provide street addresses for mail in Auckland and Wellington as well as online PO Box services in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. For the PO Boxes we manage, we clear them and you can access your mail online from anywhere in the world.
To signup for a Private Box please go to https://www.privatebox.co.nz/plans-pricing/
How long does it take to get set up? I have a P.O. Box in Wellington and it has a note on the inside of the box saying still being set up (it’s only been a week and a half but good to know timeframe as there should be mail coming through). Also could someone assist with the email notification as I’m not sure what the lobby is called.
At http://www.privatebox.co.nz we issue an account instantly and confirm your new addresses once your identity is verified.
For NZ Post (www.nzpost.co.nz) this can vary wildly depending on which branch you are dealing with. I would go back to the post shop to find out what’s going on.