What our fees cover
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) calculates fees on a cost-recovery basis.
Activities and services we charge for include:
- import permits
- border clearance inspections
- travel costs.
Not all the fees on this page may apply to you and there could be other charges not listed here – like transport, storage, or laboratory costs.
Import permit
Some wood products need a permit before they can be imported into New Zealand. The import health standards (IHS) for your product will tell you if a permit is needed.
Check if there is an IHS for your wood product
| Fee type | Fee (excl GST) | Fee (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Application for permit to import non-propagable forest products, including wood products | $191.95* | $220.74* |
| * If processing your application takes longer than one-and-a-half hours, additional time will be charged at an hourly rate of $102.27 excluding GST or $117.61 including GST. | ||
Border clearance charges
MPI may charge you for costs related to inspecting your wood products when they arrive in New Zealand.
You may be charged extra fees if MPI's biosecurity inspector has to:
- travel to inspect your goods
- wait before inspection can start
- be called out after hours.
Biosecurity inspection fees, including travel charges
| Fee type | Fee (excl GST) | Fee (incl GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Biosecurity inspector – hourly rate* | $102.27 | $117.61 |
| Travel charges for MPI inspectors | ||
| Travel within zone 1 – up to 4 km from base | $34.86 | $40.09 |
| Travel within zone 2 – over 4 km and up to 10 km from base | $70.75 | $81.36 |
| Travel within zone 3 – over 10 km and up to 25 km from base | $109.24 | $125.63 |
| Travel within zone 4 – over 25 km and up to 50 km from base | $149.19 | $171.57 |
| Travel more than 50 km from base | Hourly rates, plus a mileage charge of $0.67 a kilometre. Other travel-related costs may also apply. | Hourly rates, plus a mileage charge of $0.7705 a kilometre. Other travel-related costs may also apply. |
| *Hourly rate charges also apply to waiting times. | ||
Wood product treatment charges
You’ll have to pay to have wood products treated if they do not meet the import health standard or if they are contaminated – for example, if they contain pests.
You may also have to pay lab costs associated with identifying any pests.
Contact the individual treatment provider for their charges.
- Download a list of treatment providers [PDF, 223 KB]
Find out more
- Read about MPI's updated fees and charges
- Biosecurity (Costs) Regulations 2010 – New Zealand Legislation website
Who to contact
If you have questions about MPI's fees and charges, email info@mpi.govt.nz.
