Check if you can bring or send an item to NZ

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 New Zealand Traveller Declaration 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.

The information in this tool ('Check if you can bring or send an item to NZ') is guidance only. The tool relates only to biosecurity requirements for imported goods and does not cover other types of requirements for imported goods. While we do our best to provide correct and complete information about New Zealand's biosecurity requirements in this tool, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) cannot guarantee your goods will be cleared at the border. This is because:

• Biosecurity requirements for imported goods can change, sometimes quickly.
• MPI's border officers will have to examine the items before deciding if they can be cleared. Before deciding, they may have to refer to legal documents called import health standards.
• MPI is not the only agency responsible for requirements for imported goods. An item may meet the biosecurity requirements enforced by MPI but it may not meet some other types of requirements enforced by other government agencies at the border. You may need to contact multiple government agencies to check whether your items are likely to be allowed to enter New Zealand.

MPI's partner agencies at the border include, but are not limited to the:

• New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) for duty, declarations, and restricted items
• Manatū Hauora – Ministry of Health for medication and controlled substances
• Department of Conservation for CITES (endangered species)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for prohibited organisms and Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO).

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