Check if you can bring or send an item to NZ
This tool will help you learn what you can and can't bring to New Zealand. It has information on the items we're most frequently asked about – food, drinks, sports and outdoor equipment, and animal and plant products.
Update – 19 July 2021
Proposed new import health standard (IHS) for personal consignments of products for human consumption and personal effects
From 19 July 2021 to 31 August 2021, MPI would like your feedback on the proposed new IHS for personal consignments of products for human consumption and personal effects.
The new requirements will consolidate existing standards and state on-arrival procedures. It will also clarify for passengers what and how much food products they can bring to New Zealand.
Start by selecting an item from this list
Note: The information in this tool is for guidance only. We cannot guarantee your goods will be cleared at the border. This is because regulations regularly change, sometimes quickly, and border officers will have to examine your items before deciding if they can be cleared. Read the full legal disclaimer before using this tool
- Food
- Equipment, clothing, and wooden items
- Alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco, drugs, and medicines
- Something else
About this tool
We've developed this tool to help you get some quick answers to what you can bring or post to New Zealand. We don't have everything listed in the tool but it covers the food and other items we most frequently get asked about. The tool will also tell you whether there are any weight or quantity restrictions.
It applies only to private consignments (goods or items for personal use). Remember, all risk items brought into New Zealand need to be declared on your Passenger Arrival Card or postal declaration documents (description, weight, and value) for mail.
Information in the tool is only a general guide. On arrival, your risk item may be inspected by a quarantine officer. This may cause delays when travelling through an airport, especially during the summer and peak flight times. The officer makes the final decision about whether your item is allowed into New Zealand. If you're in any doubt, our advice is to leave risk items at home or not post them.
Legal disclaimer about the use of this tool
The information in this tool ('Check if you can bring or send an item to NZ') is guidance only. While we do our best to provide correct and complete information in this tool, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) cannot guarantee your goods will be cleared at the border. This is because:
- import requirements and restrictions can change, sometimes quickly
- border officers will have to examine the items before deciding if they can be cleared. Before making a decision, they may have to refer to legal documents called import health standards
MPI disclaims all responsibility for any error or other issues with the information in this tool. We are not liable if you choose to rely on the information in the tool, which is only a guide about private consignments.
Check our importing section to find out about commercial consignments
Chinese version
A smaller version of this tool with selected goods is available in Chinese.
我可以把它帶進或郵寄到紐西蘭嗎? (What can I bring or post to New Zealand?)
Who to contact
We welcome your feedback about this tool. If you have questions or comments about it or about bringing items to New Zealand:
- email info@mpi.govt.nz
- phone 0800 00 83 33.
Related information
Items to declare – find out about types of risk items and why we have restrictions
A list of our border clearance offices