On your arrival

Before landing, read the New Zealand Passenger Arrival Card and fill in the attached declaration form correctly. Examples of the Passenger Declaration cards in various languages are available online for your reference. Actual Arrival Cards will be provided on the plane.

Check if you are carrying any restricted goods in your luggage. Restricted goods include:

• cakes and sweets
• meat and meat products
• eggs and egg products
• dairy products
• animal products (eg. wool, hides and hunting trophies)
• soil
• seeds
• plants and plant products
• some Chinese medicines
• soiled equipment (eg. Camping and Fishing Equipment, and Camping food, hiking boots, second-hand saddlery and farm footwear), and
• treatments or medicines for animals

This list is not exhaustive. Please also consult the list of Restricted Items.

If you have any prohibited or restricted goods you no longer wish to keep, put them in the amnesty bins provided at the airport's arrivals area. The bins are usually your last opportunity to throw away restricted goods before entering MAF's Biosecurity Area.

Most passenger luggage will be screened by X-ray units or searched to identify any biosecurity restricted goods on arrival into New Zealand. The X-ray units use a very low radiation level and are completely safe. They do not affect photographis film, medications, foodstufs or pregnant women.

Also, specially trained MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Detector Dogs are on duty at the airport baggage carousel and can identify restricted goods in your possession.

If you intend to bring restricted goods into New Zealand, declare them to a MAFBNZ Clearance officer. The restricted goods will be checked.

If your goods are prohibited entry, you are likely to be given up to four options:

• The items will be held for you and returned when you leave the country (unless, for example, you arrive by air but are leaving on a cruise ship).
• The items will be re-shipped at the owner's expense.
• The items will be destroyed at no cost to the owner.
• The items will be treated. This is done at the owner's expense. The owner will need to make arrangement to collect the items once treated.

Please be aware that some items cannot be treated.

Occasionally live pests (eg insects and animals) "hitchhike" into New Zealand inside luggage. Be careful when unpacking as these pests may jump out. If you spot a live pest, please report it as soon as possible by calling 0800 809 966 (toll free).

If you wish to import something into New Zealand, you will need to consult the appropriate Import Health Standard. See information about importing containers and vehicles.