New Zealand Post is asking people who have not yet sent their gifts to do so sooner rather than later.
New Zealand Post South Dunedin customer services team leader Sue-ellen Moore said the Dunedin depot experienced a 7% increase in mail handled during December.
About four on-call staff were called in over December to ensure the busiest month of the year went smoothly, she said.
A New Zealand Post spokeswoman said people wanting to send cards and presents to Australia had until December 7, while mail to the South Pacific, Asia, North America, the United Kingdom and Europe should have been sent by yesterday.
Mail could be sent via international courier and international express courier services until mid-December.
A number of parcels arrived at the Dunedin depot each day without the correct delivery address on them, and while 99% of the time they ended up at the correct destination, it was important people checked addresses before posting items, Ms Moore said.
"Make sure you put your details on the back and include a phone number so that if there is an issue, we can work with you or the receiver so everyone can have a happy Christmas."
While the Christmas rush usually peaked around mid-December, it now started earlier and lasted longer due to online shopping, she said.
People were advised to allow two extra days for delivery over the Christmas and New Year period because of statutory holidays.
Deliveries would be made on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, but not on Boxing Day or December 27, or January 2 or 3.
