A Wellington-based business specialising in berets says its future is under threat after New Zealand Post halted most shipping services to the United States due to new US tariff rules, reported RNZ.
According to a report by South Pacific Berets, which describes itself as the world’s most specialised beret retailer, it relies heavily on American customers.
Owner Daan Kolthoff said around 90 per cent of his sales come from the US, with berets sourced from Europe and South America before being shipped from New Zealand to buyers worldwide.
Kolthoff said he discovered the suspension only when he attempted to send parcels using NZ Post’s eShip system. “I thought it was a website glitch at first, but then I read online that shipments had been suspended,” RNZ reports.
The sudden halt has forced him to cancel and refund orders, a devastating blow for such a niche operation. “It’s very painful. I have to tell my US customers they can’t place orders, and I honestly don’t know how long this will last. Worst case, it could mean the end of my business,” he said.
Kolthoff also criticised the lack of communication from NZ Post, saying he was left without answers for his worried customers.
In a statement, NZ Post said it was “responding with agility” to recent guidance from US Customs and Border Protection, which requires significant changes to shipment data, duty payments, and processing rules.
The organisation confirmed its main airline partners had refused to carry items subject to the tariffs, forcing the suspension.
For now, only letters and documents can still be sent, while all economy and courier parcel services remain suspended “until further notice.” NZ Post has not provided a date for when normal service will resume but said it expected the disruption to be temporary.
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