Customs

Airport Customs:

Before you arrive you will receive a New Zealand Passenger Arrival Card. You must tick ‘yes’ in the Customs section of your arrival card if you are bringing into New Zealand:

· goods that may be prohibited or restricted, such as weapons, objectionable (indecent) articles, or illicit drugs .

· goods in excess of the $700 allowance and the tobacco and alcoholic beverages allowance .

· goods for commercial, business, or trade purposes .

· goods carried on behalf of another person

· NZ$10,000 or more, or the equivalent in foreign currency .

You do not have to declare your clothing, footwear, jewellery, and toiletries – these are regarded as “personal effects” if intended solely for your own use.

Please have any purchase receipts readily available.

Screening point

You may not leave the arrival hall until you have completed all Immigration, Customs and MAF Biosecurity formalities. A Customs officer may request that you remain in the arrival hall until he/she is satisfied that all statutory requirements have been completed.

After clearing passport control and collecting your baggage you should proceed to the exit.

An MAF Biosecurity or Customs officer will be on hand to assess your declaration. If you are unsure about declaring an item, please ask an officer at the exit for direction.

Baggage search

Customs officers may search the baggage of any passenger. A baggage search may also be requested by the MAF Biosecurity officer.

Commercial goods

If you are carrying commercial goods, goods for resale or goods for use in your business they may be subject to duty and goods and services tax (GST). You must declare these goods (regardless of value) on your arrival card or to a Customs officer.

Use of electronic communication devices

The use of electronic communication devices is not permitted within certain parts of the Customs passenger processing area. Signage is erected in the affected areas and this will indicate the type of devices that should not be used. If you are in any doubt as to where in the arrival or departure areas you may be able to use your mobile phone or similar, please ask a Customs officer.

Import Restrictions

An important border function is screening for items harmful to New Zealand’s interests. Importation of some goods is prohibited, while others may be admitted only after they have been subjected to treatment, such as fumigation.

Money : You are not allowed to carry more than NZ$ 10,000

Agricultural items: Declare any kinds of plants, animals dead or alive at the customs.

Domestic pets and animals: Domestic animals may be exempt from Customs charges provided you satisfy the terms and conditions for the duty-free entry of “Household or other related effects”.

Firearms and weapons

Medicines: If you are carrying prescription medicines or controlled drugs you should:

· have a prescription from your physician advising that the medicine is being used under a doctor’s direction and is necessary for your physical well-being

· carry the drugs in their original containers

· have sufficient quantity not exceeding three months' supply for prescription medicines or one month supply for controlled drugs.

Objectionable publications: Objectionable publications are prohibited imports and will be seized.

Publications imported into New Zealand are subject to the provisions of the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993. The definition of publication includes, but is not limited to films, videos, computer games, DVDs, CD-ROMs, books, posters, music recordings, magazines, photographs, paintings, t-shirts and computer files.

A publication is objectionable if it describes, depicts, expresses, or otherwise deals with matters such as sex, horror, crime, cruelty, or violence in such a manner that the availability of the publication is likely to be injurious to the public good.

Hookah pipes, water pipes and smoking utensils: Smoking pipes such as those frequently referred to as hookahs, shisha, sheesha, arguileh, hubble-bubbles, Turkish water pipes, bongs, and hash pipes are prohibited imports to New Zealand and liable to seizure upon arrival. These items and roach clips with a pincer or tweezer action are considered in New Zealand law to be cannabis and/or methamphetamine utensils and are therefore unlawful, irrespective of their end use.

 

Remember – if in doubt, do not import