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Courier/Delivery Agent

Kaikawe Karere/Utanga

Couriers/delivery agents sort, collect and deliver mail, packages, parcels and other goods to homes and businesses.

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Secondary education

There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a courier or delivery agent, but maths and English are useful.

Study levels

  • Up to NCEA Level 3

Useful experience

Useful experience for couriers and delivery agents includes:

  • work as a mail sorter or newspaper deliverer
  • work in the transport and logistics industry, such as taxi driving, or any other driving work.

What you will do

Couriers and delivery agents may do some or all of the following:

  • sort and deliver mail, parcels and other goods
  • collect items for delivery from businesses or private homes
  • keep a record of deliveries made, including the delivery of registered mail
  • receive payment on delivery of goods, or arrange for accounts to be settled
  • hold mail for customers who are away and redirect mail for people who have changed address
  • keep their delivery vehicle in good working order.

Skills and knowledge

Couriers and delivery agents need to have knowledge of:

  • New Zealand geography, especially the area where they're based
  • correct lifting techniques
  • how to use tracking equipment such as scanners
  • the Road Code, defensive driving techniques and transport regulations.

They may also need to know how to handle hazardous goods.

Couriers running a small delivery business need business skills.

Pay

Couriers usually earn

$49K-$130K

per year

Job opportunities
Average
Chances of getting a job as a courier or delivery agent are average due to a drop in demand for their services
Length of training
<1
year of training required.

Industry

Transport and Logistics

Couriers/delivery agents sort, collect and deliver mail, packages, parcels and other goods to homes and businesses.

Similar jobs in this industry

Entry requirements

To become a courier or delivery agent you need to have the correct type of licence for the vehicle you're driving.

Courier drivers may need their own vehicle (such as a van), a dangerous goods (D) endorsement, and a goods service licence.

Chances of getting a job

According to the Census, 5,862 courier/delivery agents worked in New Zealand in 2018.

New Zealand Post major employer

New Zealand Post is the main provider of postal services in New Zealand and a major employer of couriers and delivery agents.

In June 2023 NZ Post announced plans to reduce the number of employees by 750 by 2028 due to. This is because:

  • more online communication - for instance bank statements - is replacing letters
  • although online shopping and parcel delivery have increased, it is not enough to make up for the drop in letters being sent. 

Seek also reported a decrease in vacancies for couriers.

Couriers and delivery agents may also work for:

  • courier companies as employees, or self-employed owner-operators in a franchise or contract arrangement
  • New Zealand Post as a self-employed rural mail delivery contractor 
  • other registered postal operators.

Find out more about training

New Zealand Couriers  
0800 800 841 -  www.nzcouriers.co.nz
New Zealand Post
(04) 496 4999 - www.nzpost.co.nz

Progression and specialisations

Experienced couriers and delivery agents may move into training, supervisory or management roles.

Working conditions

Couriers and delivery agents:

  • usually work four to six days a week, and start between 5am and 8am to sort mail and packages before they start their deliveries. Delivery agents usually work 30 hours a week but couriers can work up to 84 hours a week in busy periods
  • work outside in all weather conditions and may drive in heavy traffic
  • travel locally, usually within a set area. 

Physical Requirements

Couriers and delivery agents need to be physically fit and healthy as may can walk up to 15 kilometres or cycle up to 25km to deliver goods. They may also have to handle heavy parcels weighing up to 30 kilograms.

Useful personal qualities

Couriers and delivery agents need to be:

  • able to sort quickly and accurately
  • good at reading maps, and able to memorise road names, street numbers and names
  • skilled at driving
  • honest and reliable
  • friendly, helpful and polite
  • able to provide excellent customer service
  • able to work well in a team and independently
  • organised and punctual.

Industry

Transport and Logistics

Couriers/delivery agents sort, collect and deliver mail, packages, parcels and other goods to homes and businesses.

Similar jobs in this industry

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