NZ Post Halts US Deliveries, Impacting Christmas Shopping

New Zealand Post has suspended parcel deliveries to the United States, causing concern for those hoping to send Christmas gifts and other items during the holiday season. This decision follows new tariffs imposed by the US government, which have disrupted international shipping operations.

The temporary suspension, announced last week, means that only letters and documents can be sent to the US until further notice. New Zealand Post cited the need for clarity on how these tariffs will be enforced as the reason for this measure.

Carol Ashton, a grandmother from Whangarei, expressed her disappointment over the situation. Ashton typically sends Christmas presents to her two grandchildren living in the US, and she usually prepares shipments by the end of October. She highlighted the emotional significance of these gifts, stating, “Christmas and birthdays are special times to think of them… sometimes you’ll see something that they would really love and you want to be able to post it.”

The impact extends beyond personal gifts. Colette Rhodes, a romance author based in New Zealand, relies heavily on sales in the US market. She has been stockpiling books and personalized accessories for her readers, who often expect a personal touch, such as signed stickers for their novels. Rhodes commented, “For the time being, I think it’s just a full stop until we get a clear idea of what the system’s going to be and what the cost impact is going to be going forward.”

Small business owners are also feeling the strain. Pepper Racoon, a business owner in Wellington, reported that her parcels began being returned from US customs without explanation two weeks ago. She noted that once shipping resumes, businesses will need to hire certified brokerage companies to collect the tariffs, which can be prohibitively expensive. “One of the companies I looked at that’s certified to collect these tariffs is $4,000 USD a year. I simply can’t afford that,” Racoon stated.

The uncertainty surrounding shipping has left her contemplating the future of her business, which relies on a significant portion of its income from US customers. “Breaking into the US market has been really helpful. I’m not really sure where to go from here,” she added.

In response to the situation, New Zealand Post indicated that other postal operators worldwide are also halting parcel shipments to the US. The postal service stated, “Guidance from US Customs & Border Protection was only recently issued and requires a number of changes for both businesses and NZ Post, including updates to shipment data, duty and tax payments, and how goods are processed for entry into the US.”

A spokesperson mentioned that main airline partners have decided not to carry mail items subject to the new tariffs, further complicating the situation. As of now, New Zealand Post has not provided a timeline for when full postal services to the US will resume.

This suspension not only affects individual senders but also poses challenges for businesses eager to maintain their customer relationships across the Pacific. The disruption underscores the complexities of international trade and the far-reaching consequences of tariff policies.