New Zealand postal addresses
Encyclopedia
In June 2006, New Zealand
introduced a new postcode system, which, unlike the previous system, applies to all items of mail, from June 2008.
New Zealand Post
did not require individual items of mail to include the post code in the address, as optical character recognition
(OCR) enabled automated sorting machines to scan entire addresses, rather than just post codes, as was the case with older machines. Until the early 1990s, all mail was sorted manually.
There are 1856 4-digit postcodes, each of which may serve up to 10000 individual locations. They start with 0 in Northland and progress southward, ending with codes starting with 9 in Otago
and Southland
.
The first two digits specify the area, the third digit specifies the type of delivery (street, PO Box
, Private Bag, or Rural delivery
), and the last digit specifies the specific lobby, RD (rural delivery) number, or suburb.
In October 2008, New Zealand Post launched a 'remember your postcode' campaign, offering a NZ$ 10 000 prize for remembering a postcode.
:
, Wellington
and Christchurch
now either have their own postcode, or share one with fewer suburbs. For example, whereas the old postcode 1003 covered Epsom
, Mount Eden
, and Mount Albert
, these suburbs now have separate postcodes from one another.
, each now has its own postcode:
the addresses are:
, similar to the Mailsort
system used by Royal Mail
in the United Kingdom
. Consequently, post codes were not usually seen in addresses:
Under the old system, Auckland
, Wellington
and Christchurch
were divided into postal zones, which were incorporated into the post code system for use in bulk mailings. For example, for the former Wellington 4:
In cities and large towns, the last two digits indicated the mode of delivery, as illustrated by addresses in Palmerston North
:
Street address:
Post Office Box address:
Private Bag address
Rural Delivery address
NB: Prior to the changeover, New Zealand Post also required that a space was inserted between the letters 'P' and 'O' in 'PO Box' or 'R' and 'D' in 'RD'.
names for cities and towns in New Zealand; for example, the Māori Language Commission
's address is:
In English
, this translates as:
In spite of the considerable difference between the two languages, there was no need to add the post code under the old system, which in this case would have been 6015.
Other Freepost
mail includes a unique number as well as the PO Box or Private Bag number:
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
introduced a new postcode system, which, unlike the previous system, applies to all items of mail, from June 2008.
New Zealand Post
New Zealand Post
New Zealand Post, commonly referred by its acronym, NZPost is a State owned enterprise responsible for providing postal service in New Zealand.-History:...
did not require individual items of mail to include the post code in the address, as optical character recognition
Optical character recognition
Optical character recognition, usually abbreviated to OCR, is the mechanical or electronic translation of scanned images of handwritten, typewritten or printed text into machine-encoded text. It is widely used to convert books and documents into electronic files, to computerize a record-keeping...
(OCR) enabled automated sorting machines to scan entire addresses, rather than just post codes, as was the case with older machines. Until the early 1990s, all mail was sorted manually.
There are 1856 4-digit postcodes, each of which may serve up to 10000 individual locations. They start with 0 in Northland and progress southward, ending with codes starting with 9 in Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
and Southland
Southland Region
Southland is New Zealand's southernmost region and is also a district within that region. It consists mainly of the southwestern portion of the South Island and Stewart Island / Rakiura...
.
The first two digits specify the area, the third digit specifies the type of delivery (street, PO Box
Post Office box
A post-office box or Post Office box is a uniquely addressable lockable box located on the premises of a post office station....
, Private Bag, or Rural delivery
Rural Delivery
Rural Delivery refers to these topics:* Mail Service:** Rural delivery service - mail delivery in the countyside of the United States* Musical groups:** Rural Delivery a Bluegrass band in Fairbanks, Alaska, 2004-2007...
), and the last digit specifies the specific lobby, RD (rural delivery) number, or suburb.
In October 2008, New Zealand Post launched a 'remember your postcode' campaign, offering a NZ$ 10 000 prize for remembering a postcode.
Modes of delivery
In cities and large towns, the last two digits indicate one of the four modes of delivery, as illustrated by addresses in Palmerston NorthPalmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
:
- Street addressAddress (geography)An address is a collection of information, presented in a mostly fixed format, used for describing the location of a building, apartment, or other structure or a plot of land, generally using political boundaries and street names as references, along with other identifiers such as house or...
, in which mail is delivered directly to homes by the 'postie';
- 43 Vogel Street
- Roslyn
- Palmerston North 4414
- PO BoxPost Office boxA post-office box or Post Office box is a uniquely addressable lockable box located on the premises of a post office station....
address, in which mail is delivered to a private box, usually at a Post Shop (formerly Post Office), for collection;
- PO Box 400
- Palmerston North Central
- Palmerston North 4440
- Private Bag, in which a private mail bag is delivered to an organisation such as a large company or a government department
- Private Bag 11222
- Manawatu Mail Centre
- Palmerston North 4442
- Rural DeliveryRural Letter CarrierRural letter carriers are United States Postal Service employees who deliver mail in what are traditionally considered rural areas of the United States...
, used in rural areas for home deliveries.
- Railway Road
- RD 10
- Palmerston North 4470
Suburbs
Under the new system, some suburbs in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
and Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
now either have their own postcode, or share one with fewer suburbs. For example, whereas the old postcode 1003 covered Epsom
Epsom, New Zealand
Epsom is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is located in the centre of the Auckland isthmus between Mount Eden and One Tree Hill, south of Newmarket, and five km south of the city centre.-Notable features:...
, Mount Eden
Mount Eden
Mount Eden is the name of a cinder cone and surrounding suburb in Auckland City, New Zealand, situated five kilometres south of the city centre. The mountain is the highest natural point in the whole of Auckland...
, and Mount Albert
Mount Albert, New Zealand
Mount Albert is a volcanic peak and suburban area in the city of Auckland, New Zealand. The suburb was Auckland's second, after Remuera, and was mostly settled by well-off families in the late 1800s and early 1900s...
, these suburbs now have separate postcodes from one another.
- 6 Ferryhill Road
- Epsom
- Auckland 1023
- 2 Avenham Walk
- Mount Eden
- Auckland 1024
- 3 Laurel Sreet
- Mount Albert
- Auckland 1025
PostShop lobbies
Each PostShop lobby now has its own postcode. Under the old system, some covered several PO Box or Private Bag number ranges in the same city, for example, whereas 1730 was used for several PO Box number ranges in South AucklandSouth Auckland
South Auckland is an imprecisely defined area of Auckland, New Zealand, often stereotyped as a socio-economically disadvantaged, and sometimes rough, urban area with a relatively large Polynesian and Māori population. The name South Auckland is not an official place name but is in common use by New...
, each now has its own postcode:
- PO Box 51000
- Pakuranga
- Manukau 2140
- Private Bag 76912
- Manukau City
- Manukau 2241
- PO Box 38234
- Howick
- Manukau 2145
Repartition of postcodes
Here below is a table that - for each first postcode digit - indicates in which government regionsRegions of New Zealand
The region is the top tier of local government in New Zealand. There are 16 regions of New Zealand. Eleven are governed by an elected regional council, while five are governed by territorial authorities which also perform the functions of a regional council and thus are known as unitary authorities...
the addresses are:
| Code prefix | Regions |
| 0 | Northland, parts of Auckland |
| 1 | Auckland |
| 2 | Auckland, Waikato |
| 3 | Bay of Plenty, Waikato |
| 4 | Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Manawatu-Wanganui |
| 5 | Wellington |
| 6 | Wellington |
| 7 | Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast, Canterbury |
| 8 | Canterbury |
| 9 | Otago, Southland |
Previous system
Although postcodes were first introduced in New Zealand in 1977, these were used entirely for pre-sorting large volumes of mail in bulkBulk mail
Bulk mail broadly refers to mail that is mailed and processed in bulk at reduced rates. The term does not denote any particular purpose for the mail; but in general usage is synonymous with "junk mail."...
, similar to the Mailsort
Mailsort
Mailsort is a five-digit address-coding scheme used by the Royal Mail and its business customers for the automatic direction of mail...
system used by Royal Mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Consequently, post codes were not usually seen in addresses:
- New Zealand Post
- Private Bag 39990
- Wellington Mail Centre
- Lower Hutt
Under the old system, Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
and Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
were divided into postal zones, which were incorporated into the post code system for use in bulk mailings. For example, for the former Wellington 4:
- Flat 2
- 173 Park Road
- Johnsonville
- Wellington 6004
In cities and large towns, the last two digits indicated the mode of delivery, as illustrated by addresses in Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
:
Street address:
- 43 Vogel Street
- Palmerston North 5301
Post Office Box address:
- P O Box 4000
- Palmerston North 5315
Private Bag address
- Private Bag 11222
- Palmerston North 5320
Rural Delivery address
- Railway Road
- R D 10
- Palmerston North 5321
NB: Prior to the changeover, New Zealand Post also required that a space was inserted between the letters 'P' and 'O' in 'PO Box' or 'R' and 'D' in 'RD'.
Māori names
New Zealand Post recognises MāoriMaori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
names for cities and towns in New Zealand; for example, the Māori Language Commission
Maori Language Commission
New Zealand's Māori Language Commission is an autonomous crown entity set up under the Māori Language Act 1987 with the following functions:...
's address is:
- Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori
- Pouaka Poutāpeta 411
- Te Whanganui a Tara 6140
In English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, this translates as:
- Māori Language Commission
- PO Box 411
- Wellington 6140
In spite of the considerable difference between the two languages, there was no need to add the post code under the old system, which in this case would have been 6015.
Freepost
Mail to Members of the New Zealand Parliament is delivered free of charge for individuals (organisations must pay regular rates). The cost is deducted from the Member's budget.- Rt Hon John KeyJohn KeyJohn Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
- Prime MinisterPrime Minister of New ZealandThe Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
- Private Bag 18888
- Parliament Buildings
- Wellington 6160
Other Freepost
Freepost
Freepost is a postal service provided by various postal administrations, whereby a person sends mail without affixing postage, and the recipient pays the postage when collecting the mail...
mail includes a unique number as well as the PO Box or Private Bag number:
- Freepost 112002
- CARM
- PO Box 913
- Dunedin 9054
Third party registered postal operators
Until recently NZ post has had the majority of influence on Private Box rentals. But now DX Mail and Private Box provide an alternative solution for people who need a remote box address. Along with the new competitors in the marketplace NZ Post may find it difficult to keep up with the new addressing system, which is why they have set a standard for addressing mail.External links
- New Zealand Post
- NZ Post The $10,000 Question
- Old Post Code finder
- New Zealand adopts postcodes - article in The TimesThe TimesThe Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
1 June 2006 - New Zealand enters brave new world of postcodes - article on Nine NetworkNine NetworkThe Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
website, 31 May 2006 - New Zealand Postcode Database - downloadable MySQL database of new NZ postcodes
- Postcode Perimeter Search for New Zealand