New Zealand Post Limited was formed on 1 April 1987 as a State-Owned Enterprise from the privatization of the New Zealand Post Office, a government department.
New Zealand Post started with 1,244 post offices, later renamed PostShops. As of March 1998, (after downsizing or closures after government subsidies expired in February 1988) there are 297 PostShops, and 705 Post Centres. Despite this there are now more outlets than before privatization, with 2,945 other retailers of postage stamps.
In 2002, New Zealand Post, opened the bank Kiwibank Limited in most of its PostShop and TakeNote branches. New Zealand Post now also operates the Electoral Enrolment Centre under contract to the Minister of Justice. Its function is to compile and maintain all parliamentary electoral rolls.
