For any e-tailer in New Zealand and Australia, mastering the last mile is the ultimate battleground. But as you ramp up your business, you need to ask yourself a strategic question: is standard parcel insurance, offered by national giants such as Australia Post and NZ Post, really calibrated to protect your sales, your products and your reputation? For a company striving for excellence, the answer is a resounding no. This comparison will dissect exactly why. You can also find our comparison of carriers' parcel insurance 2025 and the whole ad valorem encyclopedia with analysis of CMS offers and logistics solutions.
Australia Post's "Extra Cover": A Scalpel Analysis
Australia Post offers a multi-speed system for its domestic shipments. Although basic coverage is included, any protection worthy of the name depends on their "Extra Cover" option, which reveals a surprisingly aggressive cost structure.
- Basic coverage: Protection of the first $100 AUD of value is offered by default.
- Extra Cover: Beyond this threshold, a premium is applied.
The system may seem simple, but its economic reality is formidable.
💸 Real Cost: A Tax on Margin
At $2.50 AUD per $100 of value, the effective rate is 2.5%. That's 3 to 5 times more expensive than specialized insurance, and it directly attacks your profitability.
📉 Le Limit de Verre
Coverage is strictly limited to $5,000 AUD. This is a dead end for all sellers of luxury goods, electronics, art or B2B equipment.
🤔 The $100 "Included" Lure
The basic coverage of $100 AUD is marketing bait. For a professional, it's negligible protection that masks the high cost of real insurance above this threshold.
The conclusion is simple: an effective rate of 2.5% of the insured value for the Australia Post offer. Coverage is capped at $5,000 AUD, a limit that can be prohibitive for any company shipping high-value goods. And as usual, don't forget to check which goods are excluded from Australia Post's "extra cover" offer.
NZ Post Indemnity: Simplicity with a Cap
NZ Post takes a different approach. For its domestic delivery services, significant compensation is included by default, which is commendable in terms of simplicity. No complex calculations and one of the most promising compensation times on the market: 1 to 2 weeks.
However, this simplicity conceals a strategic impasse.
| Criteria |
| Delivery target |
Next working day |
Up to 3 days |
Next working day |
Up to 3 days |
| Price |
$7.20 - $15.50 |
$5.20 - $13.50 |
$7.80 - $192.50 |
$23.00 - $115.00 |
| Indemnity Limit |
2,000 NZD |
250 NZD |
2,000 NZD |
2,000 NZD |
Although generous for low- to medium-value items, NZ Post's Limit of $2,000 NZD is an insurmountable wall for any e-tailer selling products above this price. There is no native option to insure goods at $5,000 or $10,000 NZD. It's a direct and dangerous transfer of risk onto the company's shoulders. And don't forget the list of excluded products!
National players vs. global specialists
In direct confrontation, the limits of national postal insurance in the two main countries of Oceania explode in the face of a specialized, global ad valorem solution like Claisy. The former is a convenience ancillary to a high-performance delivery service; the latter is a financial instrument designed to immunize your business against the risks of lost, damaged or stolen parcels.
Australia Post
NZ Post
Claisy (La Solution Experte)
💸 Rate / Cost
An effective rate of 2.5% on the value, via the paid "Extra Cover" option.
💸 Rate / Cost
Included by default, without premium calculation.
💸 Rate / Cost
A single, transparent rate of 0.75%, with no hidden charges or minimums.
📉 Limit Max.
Strictly limited to $5,000 AUD, not enough for luxury or B2B.
📉 Limit Max.
Plafonné à 2 000 $ NZD (et seulement 250 $ NZD pour Economy <3kg), sans aucune option pour assurer au-delà.
📈 Limit Max.
Up to $160,000 AUD / $175,000 NZD, for uncompromising protection.
💡 Principle
The "$100 Lure": a free but useless base($100 AUD) that forces you into an expensive pay-as-you-go option.
💡 Principle
"Capped Simplicity": a simple approach that creates a dead end for valuable goods.
💡 Principle
"Ad Valorem coverage: insurance designed for professionals, tailored to the actual value of your shipments.
❓ Your Questions about Parcel Insurance in Australia and New Zealand
🤔
Is basic coverage enough for an e-merchant?
For low-value items, it can be. However, the low Limits ($100 AUD for AusPost, $2,000 NZD for NZ Post) make it unsuitable for any company shipping goods of significant value. It leaves a critical financial risk unprotected.
📱
Are high-tech and luxury covered by domestic carriers?
Often not. These categories frequently appear on exclusion lists. A specialist insurer like Claisy is designed to cover these high-risk categories, which is a major strategic advantage for e-commerce professionals.
🌍
How does insurance for international shipments work?
International insurance with national carriers often involves complex rules and higher costs. A global solution like Claisy simplifies this by applying the same transparent rate and high Limit to all your shipments, whatever the destination.
Get out of the maze. Choose simplicity.
Don't waste time and money with complex offers and burdensome franchises. Discover how Claisy integrates with your logistics to make it simpler and more profitable.
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Collaborative tool
Declare your parcels manually or import a simple CSV file. Ideal for moderate volumes.
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Free connectors
Integrate Claisy in 1 click with your CMS (Shopify, PrestaShop, WooCommerce...) for 100% automated insurance.
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API & EDI
For customized needs and deep integration with your WMS or ERP. Our team is at your side.
