Time running out to post those presents

With only 16 days left until Christmas, those hoping to send presents overseas are scraping the barrel - and will need to fork out a bit of cash. Photo: Getty Images

As Christmas Day looms, so do the deadlines for sending presents across the world.

New Zealand Post has shared a guide on the key sending dates Kiwis need to know if they want to send gifts to others before Christmas time.

With only 16 days left until Christmas, those hoping to send presents overseas are scraping the barrel - and will need to fork out a bit of cash.

The deadline for sending presents to the South Pacific, Asia, North America, UK and Europe is this Friday, December 13 via an Express Courier.

For Australia, the cut-off date for sending gifts is Monday, December 16 via Express Courier, but you will need to get in quick for the rest of world - tomorrow is the deadline for Express Courier.

Those sending presents to friends and families in New Zealand still have a little bit more time - having until Monday, December 23 to courier a gift.

On its website, Courier Post has advised there are delays in deliveries in the lower South Island due to the bad weather.

‘‘Deliveries in the lower half of the South Island are expected to be delayed during the first half of this week.

‘‘Services south of Ashburton are most impacted, however we are able to continue services between Invercargill and Dunedin and Dunedin and Timaru as normal,’’ Courier Post wrote.