A relatively new system
New Zealand didn't always have postcodes. The current 4-digit system was introduced by NZ Post in July 2006, replacing the older 4-digit numeric codes that were used inconsistently. The new system was designed to be consistent, geographically logical, and compatible with international addressing standards. Before 2006, many NZ addresses simply didn't include a postcode at all.
The 4-digit format
All NZ postcodes are 4 digits long, ranging from 0110 (Northland) to 9897 (Stewart Island/Rakiura). Unlike Australian postcodes, the first digit of an NZ postcode doesn't strictly map to one region — but broadly:
| Range | Primary area |
|---|---|
| 0110–0999 | Northland |
| 1010–1072 | Auckland City (inner) |
| 1500–1542 | Auckland (outer, east, west) |
| 2010–2579 | Waikato, Bay of Plenty |
| 3010–3999 | Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Manawatu |
| 4410–4999 | Wellington region |
| 6011–6035 | Wellington City (inner) |
| 7010–7999 | Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast |
| 8011–8999 | Canterbury (Christchurch, South Canterbury) |
| 9010–9897 | Otago, Southland |
Major city postcodes
Key postcodes for New Zealand's major cities:
NZ vs AU postcodes
New Zealand postcodes differ from Australian ones in a few ways. NZ doesn't distinguish between delivery postcodes and mail centre postcodes — all NZ postcodes work for both street addresses and PO Boxes. NZ also doesn't use a state abbreviation in its postal addresses the same way Australia does; instead, NZ addresses typically include the suburb, city or town, and postcode. NZ Post recommends placing the postcode on the same line as the town or city name.
Browse NZ postcodes