Postmark (date stamp) service

The standard ‘NZ Post’ postmark (date stamp) is used for all mail processed across the country, and is an important part of postage.

About Postmarks
Date Stamping Philatelic Mail
Philatelic Date Stamping Facilities

About Postmarks

NZ Post and the previous NZ Post Office have used a range of different postmarks over the years to cancel stamps and to ensure postage is not used more than once.

Previously the Post Office issued a postmark to every office to cancel mail. However, from 1987 with the split of the Post Office, NZ Post commenced on centralising the processing of mail with the building of several purpose-built mail centres. This led to the withdrawal of local mail processing and postmarking.

Further changes occurred to identify which postal operator has carried the mail.

A standard national postmark was introduced for a period. This postmark included a 3-digit cancellation code, for NZ Post reference, to enable the identification of where mail had been processed. With the further consolidation of mail processing the 3-digit code is no longer used.

Under the Postal Services Act, postal operators are required by 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 is no longer provided to avoid confusion, NZ Post will continue to include the date mail is cancelled to demonstrate its commitment to meeting service standards from its three processing sites.

NZ Post values the commitment of collectors of our stamps and appreciates the importance and value placed on postmarks.  We continue to provide the current cancellation services offered through the Collectables and Solutions Centre and offer pictorial postmarks through some NZ Post outlets.

Date Stamping Philatelic Mail

To ensure we continue to provide the best quality (and consistent) service to our valued philatelic customers, we made a policy change on 21 September 2015 regarding hand cancelling of philatelic mail in the sense that it would no longer be supported at most Post outlets.

Instead, any customers who wish to have their philatelic mail hand cancelled can send their mail to any of the addresses below (refer to Philatelic Date Stamping Facilities).

You can also have mail cancelled with the Ross Dependency date stamp via the Christchurch Mail Centre, but please note that this will only apply to Ross Dependency stamps.

If you have an existing relationship with staff at your local Post Shop, it will be at the discretion of the Post Shop manager whether they continue to process requests for hand cancelled philatelic mail.

If you have any concerns or questions about date stamping of your mail, please contact the Whanganui Collectables and Solutions Centre.

Phone: +64 6 262 7262
Email: collectables@nzpost.co.nz

Philatelic Date Stamping Facilities

To have your mail date stamped, please send the addressed mail you would like cancelled inside a postage-paid envelope to any of the addresses listed below.