New Zealand Post is embarking on a significant period of change in our mail processing business to ensure the business is sustainable and meeting customers’ needs in the future. 

Over the next few years we plan to fundamentally change how New Zealand Post processes the mail.  This includes investment in new machinery in our major mail centre sites of Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Palmerston North, Hamilton and Auckland and changing how we operate. 

As a result of the centralisation of mail processing to those six major mail centre sites, from March 2006 we will be simplifying the way we cancel mail by gradually introducing a standard ‘New Zealand Post’ postmark (date stamp) for all mail processed across the country.  The new standard national postmark will include date of cancellation to demonstrate our commitment to meeting service standards, but will no longer include the place of cancellation. 

Postmarks are used to ensure postage isn’t used more than once and to identify, as required by law, which postal operator has carried the mail.  In the past, New Zealand Post has postmarked mail with both the date and location of cancellation. Perhaps the greatest change will be the use of a location name on the postmark. As we centralise the processing of mail, the location of cancellation becomes a lot less relevant – and even confusing – to customers. 

New Zealand Post values the commitment of collectors of our stamps and appreciates the importance and value placed on postmarks.  Please be assured that any current arrangements you have with your local PostShop or Post Centre to hand cancel postage will remain in place.  In addition, we will continue to provide the current cancellation services offered through our Wanganui Stamp Centre.  We will also be continuing to offer pictorial postmarks in regional sites where they are currently provided. 

 Questions & Answers

What will the new national postmark cancellation look like?

Example injet cancellation

Example postmark plus slogan plate cancellation

(Pitney Bowes and Klussendorf machines and Reiner roller date stamps)

So will there be no record of where mail has been sent from? 

The new standardised postmark will include a 3-digit cancellation code, for New Zealand Post reference, to enable us to identify and track, as required for service performance or security reasons, where mail has been processed.  The cancellation code relates to the geographical location and sort zone. 

Isn’t New Zealand Post legally obliged to provide information about where mail has been posted?

Under the Postal Services Act, postal operators are required law to identify mail they carry.  Any additional information – such as place or time – is provided at the carrier’s discretion.

While the place of cancellation will no longer be provided to avoid confusion, New Zealand Post will continue to include the date mail is cancelled to demonstrate its commitment to meeting service standards.

I currently have an arrangement with my local PostShop to hand cancel first day covers.  Will this change?

No.  Any current arrangements you have with your local PostShop or Post Centre to hand cancel postage will remain in place.  In addition, we will continue to provide the current cancellation services offered through our Wanganui Stamp Centre.

I collect pictorial postmarks.  Will these be phased out too?

No, we intend to continue to offer pictorial postmarks in regional sites where they are currently provided.

Will this affect service standards?

New Zealand Post’s service standards will not be compromised by the changes.  In fact the wider changes are being introduced to ensure we continue to meet customers’ needs in the future.