๐ผ Postal Services
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[0] => Government provision of postal services in New Zealand dates from the establishment of British government in 1840. Efficient communication was regarded by the British as one of the responsibilities of central government. It was also an essential element in the development of the colonyโs economic and governmental structure.
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Establishment date of this function is based on the Government management of postal services in New Zealand which began in 1840, with the establishment of the first official post office at Kororareka
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Government management of postal services in New Zealand began in 1840 with the establishment of the first official post office at Kororareka. One of the first appointments made by the new Governor was of an official postmaster to take responsibility for the collection and distribution of mails. However the British Post Office, unaware of the existing officer, sent out instructions for the establishment of a postal service. The new service was to be controlled from London, and implemented in New Zealand by the Collector of Customs. Consequently acting control of the Post Office passed to the Collector of Customs in 1843.
The Post Office collected and delivered mail around New Zealand, and dispatched mail to other countries. Post Offices were established in the main population centres of the North and South Islands, generally with very limited facilities. Most Post Offices during this early period shared a residence, for instance with the local police station or customs office.
New Zealand became a self-governing colony in 1847 and in 1848, on the recommendation of the British Postmaster-General, control of the New Zealand Post Office was handed back to New Zealand. The postal services were administered by the Post Office as a branch of the Colonial Secretary's Department. An ordinance “for regulating the Conveyance and Postage of letters” was issued in that year. The ordinance authorised the Governor to fix postage rates, provided they did not exceed existing rates. It also empowered him to establish post offices and mail routes, and to appoint officers. The position of Postmaster-General as head of the Post Office was briefly revived in 1853, before its abolition in 1854, in conjunction with greater delegation of powers to provincial councils and their local postmasters.
One of the main obstacles to the provision of postal services during this period was the slow communication and transportation in New Zealand. Inter-Provincial mail was dependent on infrequent and sometimes unreliable shipping routes. Shipwrecks were a regular occurrence, and it was not unusual for mail to be delayed or lost in transit. Vessels were often sail rather than steam powered, and might convey mail from Wellington to Auckland only once in three months. Overland mail between the same centres was dispatched only once a fortnight, and would take two and a half weeks to reach its destination.
The Post Office Act 1858 authorised substantial reform of postal services. It conferred a number of powers on postal authorities to improve the provision of postal services. For instance, ship’s masters’ were required to notify the Post Office of their voyages and departure times, and to carry mail if required. Failure to do so could result in a £100 fine. Similarly, the Act implemented measures for the security of mail, including a potential punishment of life in penal servitude for any person convicted of stealing or destroying letters. Due to the establishment of these powers, Archives New Zealand has treated the Post Office as an independent agency from 1858.
The increase in the powers of postal authorities, along with a large increase in the volume of mail, contributed to the establishment of the Post Office as a separate Department in 1860. The Minister in charge of the newly formed Department held the title of Postmaster-General. The Post Office retained responsibility for the provision of postal services in New Zealand until the Department was restructured in 1987.
The 1987 restructuring split the Post Office into three organisations; New Zealand Post, Post Bank, and Telecom. New Zealand Post became responsible for the provision of postal functions of the former Post Office.
New Zealand Post was established under the State Owned Enterprises Act 1986, with the principle responsibility to operate a successful business. However, the organisation had statutory responsibility for the administration of the Post Office Act 1959, which provided for operation of a postal service in New Zealand. The responsibility for the provision of postal services therefore resided with New Zealand Post.
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Show History
Government management of postal services in New Zealand began in 1840 with the establishment of the first official post office at Kororareka. One of the first appointments made by the new Governor was of an official postmaster to take responsibility for the collection and distribution of mails. However the British Post Office, unaware of the existing officer, sent out instructions for the establishment of a postal service. The new service was to be controlled from London, and implemented in New Zealand by the Collector of Customs. Consequently acting control of the Post Office passed to the Collector of Customs in 1843.
The Post Office collected and delivered mail around New Zealand, and dispatched mail to other countries. Post Offices were established in the main population centres of the North and South Islands, generally with very limited facilities. Most Post Offices during this early period shared a residence, for instance with the local police station or customs office.
New Zealand became a self-governing colony in 1847 and in 1848, on the recommendation of the British Postmaster-General, control of the New Zealand Post Office was handed back to New Zealand. The postal services were administered by the Post Office as a branch of the Colonial Secretary's Department. An ordinance “for regulating the Conveyance and Postage of letters” was issued in that year. The ordinance authorised the Governor to fix postage rates, provided they did not exceed existing rates. It also empowered him to establish post offices and mail routes, and to appoint officers. The position of Postmaster-General as head of the Post Office was briefly revived in 1853, before its abolition in 1854, in conjunction with greater delegation of powers to provincial councils and their local postmasters.
One of the main obstacles to the provision of postal services during this period was the slow communication and transportation in New Zealand. Inter-Provincial mail was dependent on infrequent and sometimes unreliable shipping routes. Shipwrecks were a regular occurrence, and it was not unusual for mail to be delayed or lost in transit. Vessels were often sail rather than steam powered, and might convey mail from Wellington to Auckland only once in three months. Overland mail between the same centres was dispatched only once a fortnight, and would take two and a half weeks to reach its destination.
The Post Office Act 1858 authorised substantial reform of postal services. It conferred a number of powers on postal authorities to improve the provision of postal services. For instance, ship’s masters’ were required to notify the Post Office of their voyages and departure times, and to carry mail if required. Failure to do so could result in a £100 fine. Similarly, the Act implemented measures for the security of mail, including a potential punishment of life in penal servitude for any person convicted of stealing or destroying letters. Due to the establishment of these powers, Archives New Zealand has treated the Post Office as an independent agency from 1858.
The increase in the powers of postal authorities, along with a large increase in the volume of mail, contributed to the establishment of the Post Office as a separate Department in 1860. The Minister in charge of the newly formed Department held the title of Postmaster-General. The Post Office retained responsibility for the provision of postal services in New Zealand until the Department was restructured in 1987.
The 1987 restructuring split the Post Office into three organisations; New Zealand Post, Post Bank, and Telecom. New Zealand Post became responsible for the provision of postal functions of the former Post Office.
New Zealand Post was established under the State Owned Enterprises Act 1986, with the principle responsibility to operate a successful business. However, the organisation had statutory responsibility for the administration of the Post Office Act 1959, which provided for operation of a postal service in New Zealand. The responsibility for the provision of postal services therefore resided with New Zealand Post.
Establishment date of this function is based on the Government management of postal services in New Zealand which began in 1840, with the establishment of the first official post office at Kororareka
- ๐ข Collector of Customs (1843 ‑ 1844)
- ๐ข New Zealand Post Limited, Headquarters (1987 ‑ )
- ๐ข New Zealand Customs Service, Head Office (1845 ‑ 1848)
- ๐ข Post Office Headquarters (1881 ‑ 1987)
- ๐ข Governor-in-Chief (1841 ‑ 1843)
- ๐ข Lieutenant-Governor, Russell and Auckland (1840 ‑ 1841)
- ๐ข Department of Internal Affairs, Head Office (1848 ‑ 1858)
- ๐ Colonial Secretary (1848 ‑ 1858)