What you cannot bring

There is a quick guide (243 Kb) outlining items that are restricted entry to New Zealand. These items should be declared to MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Clearance Service Officers. This list is not exhaustive. Additional items may be listed under Restricted Items

Some items must meet certain requirements specified in Import Health Standards.

To avoid delays at the border, do not bring:

• Plant material
• Food
• Honey and Honey Products
• Animal products
• Straw items
• Wooden items
• Sporting/camping equipment
• Live animals
• Endangered species

Plant material

Whether fresh or dried, living or dead, large or small, common or rare, all plant material must be declared. Items may require treatment or permits, and some will not be allowed in at all.

Items manufactured from plant products may be carrying viable seeds, insects or diseases. In all cases inspection is required to determine the risk status of the goods. If seeds or insects are present, treatment will be required. Treatments are carried out at the owner's expense.

Plant products requiring inspection include:

• Dries flowers
• Straw itmes
• Wooden artefacts and carvings
• Corn souvenirs
• Christmas decorations containing pinecones
• Items made from cane, bamboo or wickerware

See Restricted Plant Products

Food

There are many restrictions on bringing food into New Zealand. You may wish to consult the relevant Import Health Standard for the items you wish to bring into the country

If you are carrying food, it must be declared. Some items, such as canned baby foods, are allowed into NZ, but other items may require documentation (such as a Phytosanitary Certificate or permit). These items include:

• Meat
• Eggs
• Specific fresh fruit, vegetable and living plant material
• Dairy products
• Honey from certain countries

Phytosanitary Certificates are available from relevant Government departments in the country of origin.

More information is available about private consignments of meat products.

Honey and products containing honey

Bringing honey
to New Zealand is prohibited.  It is an unprocessed product and a
potential carrier of bee diseases.  New Zealand has a growing and
valuable beekeeping industry, which must be protected.  In addition
fruit trees, flowers and vegetable crops rely on honeybees for
pollination.

NOTE: Honey may be permitted from certain Pacific Island nations with suitable accompanying documentation (contact MAFBNZ Clearance)

Animal products

Animal products (including sea shells) are prohibited or restricted because they can carry various pests and diseases. Animal products requiring inspection include skins, wool, feathers and bones. Items may require treatments or permits and some will not be allowed in at all.

Animal products may also be restricted because they are endangered species and are protected by the Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species. CITES is an international agreement designed to prevent trade in endangered, threatened or exploited species.

See Restricted Animal Products.

Straw items

Straw can carry cereal pests and diseases which are not present in New Zealand. Many items containing straw may be allowed into New Zealand after treatment at the importer's expense.

Baskets, woven grass and mats can all bring pests into New Zealand and must be inspected.

Wooden items and curios

Wooden items, including those made of untreated wood with bark, such as traditional carvings and curios, can harbour wood boring insects and other pests.

If required, these items can be treated at the importer's expense.

Sporting/Camping Equipment

See Restricted Goods-Camping and Sporting Equipment

Footwear, outdoor, sporting 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.

These items may be inspected on arrival and should be packed in an easily accessible place. Declare these items on your declaration form.

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 the appropriate Import Health Standard. Particular attention should be paid to the packaging and country of origin requirements outlined in the standard.

Live animals

Live animals must meet specific requirements and have documentation to enter New Zealand. The requirements will depend on the type of animal and its country of origin.

Entry conditions are described within Import Health Standards. A Permit to Import may be required and animals may have to undergo Post Entry Quarantine at a MAF-approved facility.

Some animals may be prohibited if they are endangered species.

See you wish to bring you pet to New Zealand, there are some common Import Health Standards relating to cats and dogs.

Endangered species

New Zealand is party to CITES, 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
• products made from snakeskin or whalebone
• some Chinese medicines

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.