FAQs related to New Zealand Passenger Arrival Card
All wood products imported into New Zealand will be inspected on arrival in New Zealand for pests, evidence of pest infestation, or for unwanted organic contamination such as soil or bark.
Wood found to be contaminated with pests or soil or bark will need to be treated (if you want the items to enter New Zealand), re-shipped (sent back) or destroyed (incinerated). The treatment will depend on the contaminant found (e.g. fumigation for insects or bark, heat treatment for fungi).
Fumigation is mandatory for products made from or containing cane or bamboo.
All treatment or destruction costs will need to be met by the importer.
If you want to be sure of avoiding difficulties on arriving in NZ, make sure that all wood products you bring in are either free of pests, bark and soil (dirt), or have been certified treated by one of the methods described in the import health standard.
Quarantine Officers, assisted by an X-ray machine and detector dog, inspect all parcels entering New Zealand at the International Mail Centre. There are regular interceptions of risk goods, which include fresh produce, seeds, plants and straw items. Recipients of restricted items are given the option of having goods treated and returned to them at their expense.
New Zealand is now party to a world-wide agreement designed to prevent trade in endangered, threatened or exploited species. It covers items such as ivory, turtle shell artefacts, clam shells, coral and products made from snakeskin or whalebone. Plants, animals or products covered by the agreement can no longer be brought into New Zealand, except with a special permit issued by the Department of Conservation.
Many endangered species are being driven to extinction to make exotic souvenirs. By supporting the CITES agreement and deciding not to buy goods made from endangered species, you can help save these rare plants and animals.
Items which could pose a risk include meat and meat products, eggs and egg products, dairy products, animal products such as wool, hides, hunting trophies, soil, seeds and plants, second-hand saddlery, animal remedies, some Chinese medicines, used vehicles, farm machinery and contaminated containers.
All wood products imported into New Zealand will be inspected on arrival in New Zealand for pests, evidence of pest infestation, or for unwanted organic contamination such as soil or bark.
Wood found to be contaminated with pests or soil or bark will need to be treated (if you want the items to enter New Zealand), re-shipped (sent back) or destroyed (incinerated). The treatment will depend on the contaminant found (e.g. fumigation for insects or bark, heat treatment for fungi).
Fumigation is mandatory for products made from or containing cane or bamboo.
All treatment or destruction costs will need to be met by the importer.
If you want to be sure of avoiding difficulties on arriving in NZ, make sure that all wood products you bring in are either free of pests, bark and soil (dirt), or have been certified treated by one of the methods described in the import health standard.
All wood packaging material imported into New Zealand will be inspected on arrival in New Zealand for pests, evidence of pest infestation, for unwanted organic contamination such as soil or bark, or for evidence that they have been adequately treated for pests.
The pre-import treatments accepted by Biosecurity New Zealand with certification are listed in the import health standard for wood packaging material.
Biosecurity New Zealand also accepts the pre-import treatments and marking system described in the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 15: Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade 
.
Wood packaging material found to be contaminated with pests or soil or bark will need to be treated (if you want the items to enter New Zealand), re-shipped (sent back) or destroyed (incinerated). The treatment will depend on the contaminant found (e.g. fumigation for insects or bark, heat treatment for fungi).
Honey is a product made by insects. It is completely natural and has not been through a sterilising process.
Honey is a potential carrier of bee diseases. New Zealand produces more than twenty million dollars worth of bee products each year - and the industry is worth a lot more to us. Fruit trees, flowers and vegetable crops rely on bees for pollination. If our bees became diseased it would have a severe impact on our agricultural and horticultural industries.
Please do not bring honey to New Zealand.
Although the shells appear empty, they could contain viable eggs. One of the biggest risks is the Giant African Snail. These snails have an attractive shell, similar to a sea shell and are often sought by shell collectors. Some grow to 200 mm long, although most are between 20 and 100 mm long.
This snail is an example of how just one contravention can have serious consequences. These snails are considered by authorities to be the most damaging land snail in the world. Each has an enormous appetite, and they have been recorded as attacking 500 different kinds of plants. They can also pass on disease to humans.
In 1966 an eight-year-old boy returned to Miami, Florida from holiday in Hawaii with three Giant African Snail shells in his pocket. The shells carried viable eggs, and as each snail can lay as many as 6000 eggs in a lifetime, a colony was quickly established.
Fruit fly is established in many of our neighbouring countries, for example, Queensland, Australia. It would take only one infected mango to introduce this pest to New Zealand, but it would have a disastrous impact on our fruit exports and domestic production.
The greatest risk to New Zealand's economy is foot and mouth disease. This virus is prevalent in many overseas countries and can survive for long periods in meat products. An outbreak would immediately halt our valuable exports of meat and animal products.
Football, hockey, golf and cricket boots may have soil on their soles. Golf bags may have seeds or other plant material inside. BMX and other off-road cycles may be contaminated with soil. Waders for fishing may have soil or aquatic plants sticking to them. Fly-tying equipment such as feathers or skins requires inspection and may require treatment.
Please thoroughly clean all dirty sports gear before you bring them to NZ.
If you have been on a farm or in a forest outside of New Zealand, there are a few things you need to do. Consult the Restricted Items pages.
Footwear, outdoor and agricultural equipment can all carry soil-borne diseases, seeds (which can introduce noxious weeds) and fungal spores. Please clean all of these thoroughly before coming to New Zealand. Footwear is likely to be inspected on arrival and should be packed in an easily accessible place.
In terms of camp food, dried fruit and dried vegetables are permitted entry. All heat and eat meals, dehydrated meals, and milk powder must meet the requirements of this Import Health Standard. Particular notice should be paid to packaging and country of origin requirements.
When you bring risk goods to NZ, your goods will be inspected, treated if necessary, and you can collect them afterwards. Animal and plant products may be treated with Methyl Bromide and/or Formalin. Seeds, straw products and pine cones may be heat treated to destroy the viability of seeds and fungal spores.
Because there are so many different types of food and animals products please contact MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Clearance Service directly.
Travellers sometimes think there is no quarantine risk when they bring back souvenirs that are commercially wrapped. This is not the case. Items such as pot-pourri can harbour pests and seeds. Depending on what's in the mixture, it may be allowed in after treatment at the owner's expense.
New Zealand produce, once it leaves this country, is exposed to pests or diseases in a foreign country. By bringing it back to New Zealand, there is a risk that the produce has been contaminated and would introduce such pests as fruit fly.
Yes. Cooked items such as cakes are of no quarantine significance.
No. Popping corn in its natural form is a viable seed, and as such can introduce serious seed-borne diseases that might affect our maize and corn crops.
Popcorn in sealed microwave packs is allowed to come into NZ.
A number of steps need to be taken before used vehicles can be cleared for use in New Zealand. For more information see non-biological items in the Other imports section of the site.
There is an import health standard available for all used vehicles as well as a standard for treated used vehicles.
Seeds and bulbs: Bulbs are regarded as nursery stock and can carry a variety of diseases. They can only come into New Zealand with a permit.
Contact :
Biosecurity New Zealand,
Plants and Plant Products Imports,
PO Box 2526,
Wellington.
Phone: +64 4 894 0832
Fax: +64 4 894 0662
Email: plantimports@maf.govt.nz
Restrictions on seeds vary depending on the type and species. All seeds must be commercially packaged and require their full scientific name printed on the packet. Some may be allowed in providing they are free of insect pests, others are totally prohibited or may require specific treatment. This is because of the risk of introducing foreign disease or the seeds or bulbs becoming a weed.
Nursery stock, cut flowers and cuttings: Depending on the species and country of origin, these may be allowed, restricted, or totally prohibited. If a phytosanitary certificate is obtained in the country of origin, these items may be allowed into New Zealand. It is not possible to get a certificate after arrival here. For more information ask us.
All personal effects including household goods and unaccompanied baggage require quarantine risk assessment. A declaration is required on an official form, which is obtained from MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Clearance Service or the Agent handling the shipment.
You will need an Import Permit.
Contact:
Biosecurity New Zealand,
Plants and Plant Product Imports,
PO Box 2526,
Wellington.
Phone: +64 4 894 0832
Fax: +64 4 894 0662
Email: plantimports@maf.govt.nz
The level of X-ray radiation emitted by the machine is so low that it will not damage films, cameras, personal computers or computer data. A number of tests have confirmed this.
MAF does not require pet importers to use a pet transport company. However, we highly recommend that importers use the services of a registered pet transport company as they are familiar with the protocols and procedures necessary to export pets overseas.
When it comes to airlines, some specify that a pet transport company is required in order to make a reservation. This is an airline requirement; hence, you will need to contact the individual airlines directly to inquire about their requirements.
No, dogs or cats are not allowed to arrive in New Zealand by cabin. Instead they must travel as cargo.
Only dogs that meet the definition of an assistance dog may travel in the cabin along with their assisted handler, if acceptable to the airline.
The documented proof can be in a form of a pedigree certificate with your cat’s registration number, etc.
Cats and dogs being prepared for import into New Zealand must have had a microchip implanted prior or at the same time as the rabies vaccination and rabies blood titre being used for import into New Zealand. The Import Health Standard for Cats and Dogs to New Zealand states, “The microchip must be scanned and the number recorded each time a test, treatment, examination or inspection is done, the microchip number must be recorded on all vaccination records, laboratory results and certification.”
If a rabies vaccination was given less than six months prior to shipment, the previous vaccination (as long as the cat/dog has been continuously vaccinated) can be used for entry. Please note that a microchip must have been implanted prior to or at the same time as this previous rabies vaccination unless the rabies titre test has been done at least 6 months prior to the date of entry.
Example:
Rabies Vax # 1: 14 Oct 2010 (pet had no microchip)
Date of microchip implantation: 03 March 2011
Rabies Vax # 2: 15 May 2011
Rabies titre test blood draw date: 15 June 2011
The earliest date your pet can be exported to New Zealand: 15 Nov 2011
Vax # 1 can not be used for import, because the pet did not have a microchip. Please be sure to submit proof of microchip implantation date with your import permit application. This can be in the form of a microchip certificate with implantation date, a vet letter confirming the microchip number and implantation date.
Provided advance notification of arrival has been given at least 72 hours ahead of the scheduled time of arrival, and the time of arrival falls within the following times, biosecurity clearance for compliant animals will be given at the border.
Auckland
0530 to 1830 hours (weekdays only)
Christchurch
1200 to 1800 hours (weekdays only)
Wellington
1330 to 1630 hours (weekdays only)
If a cat or dog arrives outside the above hours, or arrives on a public holiday, or is not compliant with the requirements, or advance notification has not been given, they will be sent to an approved quarantine facility and must remain there until biosecurity clearance is given (within 72 hours).
The test results must either be originals or certified copies.