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

 

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 Not Available
PDF to email Not Available Not Available
Business Registration Address Not Available Not Available
Mail processing frequency 5 or 6 days/week 5 or 6 days/week
Total Average Cost ~$210/year + 50hrs of your time ~$330/year + 78hrs of staff time

 

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

 

Personal Business
Annual Rental $190-$228/year $200-$375/year
Forwarding (Redirection) Cost within a year 1 free forward via NZ courier per month. Otherwise just the cost of postage. 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 5 Free Automatic Scans per month. Then starts at $0.80 per letter
PDF to email Free Free
Business Registration Address Not Available 1 included (otherwise $232/yr per extra registered co.)
Mail processing frequency 5 days/week 5 days/week
Total Average Cost ~$228 ~$588/year