USPS Suspends Package Services to New Zealand Due to COVID-19 Outbreak – Updated 7/27/2022
New Zealand was removed from the USPS service suspension list on July 25, 2022. There was no formal Industry Alert as had been common when service suspensions were updated or lifted previously.
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Therefore, we believe service suspensions in this notice are no longer in effect and ALL services have resumed.
USPS has suspended international airmail services to New Zealand due to Covid-19 transportation cancellations and restrictions until further notice, effective October 1, 2021.
The US Postal Service constantly monitors mail services globally and evaluates parcel volume as well as transport capacity to adjust its service standards and availability.
The postal operating conditions within New Zealand and the lack of sufficient transport capacity to the country have forced USPS to suspend some mail services.
On January 14, 2022, USPS resumed acceptance of the following mail services:
- First-Class Package International Service (FCPIS)
- Commercial ePacket (CeP)
- International Priority Airmail (IPA) Packets
- International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) Packets
On January 25, 2022, USPS resumed acceptance of the following mail services:
- Priority Mail International (PMI)
On May 13, 2022, USPS suspended accepting most mail types again to New Zealand again due to a lack of transportation:
- First-Class Package International Service (FCPIS)
- Commercial ePacket (CeP)
- International Priority Airmail (IPA) Packets
- International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) Packets
- Airmail M-bags –previously suspended 10/1/21
- International Priority Airmail (IPA) M-bags
- International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) M-bags
- Priority Mail International (PMI)
Original Suspension Notice Information from October 1, 2022
The Postal Service advises that items deposited and processed through the International Service Center (ISC) by October 1 will be transported to New Zealand, but shippers should expect delays.
New Zealand Post states on its website that inbound shipments from all countries may take up to 7-10 additional working days to be delivered once packages clear customs.
After October 1, USPS will return packages to shippers, and they will be marked as “Mail Service Suspended — Return to Sender.” Shippers are entitled to a full refund when service to the country is suspended.
After October 1, US Postal Service retail locations will not accept affected mail services. However, if shippers deposit packages in a mailbox; drop off packages at retail locations that have collection areas for parcels, or if they are picked up by a postal carrier, USPS will return the item to the shipper.
Returns may take a few days and tracking may become erratic when this happens.
The Postal Service will continue to accept and transport:
- Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) shipments
- Priority Mail Express International (PMEI)
- First Class letters (First Class Mail International)
- Military/Diplomatic Mail (APO/FPO/DPO)
Note: Shippers should still expect delays on all mail services USPS continued to accept or has resumed acceptance.
Please check our USPS status of international services page for more Postal Service interruptions worldwide. We will update this post as new information becomes available.
USPS Industry Alert for New Zealand
- USPS Industry Alert for New Zealand (Update 9/29/2021)
- USPS Industry Alert for New Zealand (Update 1/14/2022)
- USPS Industry Alert for New Zealand (Update 2/23/2022)
- USPS Industry Alert for New Zealand (Update 5/13/2022)
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Richard Meldner
Richard is co-founder of eSeller365. He has over 17 years of experience on eBay which includes tens of thousands of sales to buyers in over 100 countries and even has experience with eBay’s VeRO program enforcing intellectual property rights for a former employer. And for about two years Richard sold products on Amazon using Amazon FBA in the US.
To “relax” from the daily business grind, for a few weekends a year, he also works for IMSA as a professional race official.