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Before your hunting trip to New Zealand

  1. Check the import requirements for your destination country.
  2. Let the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) know that you plan to take a trophy or hide out of New Zealand.
  3. Complete a declaration for hunting trophies to request an export certificate (unless your item must be processed in an export approved premise, for example, for the EU).
  4. Make sure you leave enough time after your hunt to get your certificate before you fly out. Note that MPI offices are not open on New Zealand public holidays.
  5. Make sure you have a contactable phone number or email address while in New Zealand.

Further information about these steps is on this page.

Check the import requirements of your home country

Import requirements vary between countries. Before you export your trophy or hide from New Zealand, you’ll need to contact a quarantine office in your own country to find out what they need.

They can tell you:

  • the import requirements for a trophy or hide from New Zealand
  • what documentation they will require from New Zealand.

You may need to apply for an import permit or other documentation from your local quarantine office.

In most cases, all you will need is an export certificate that says the trophy or hide is from New Zealand. MPI can provide this certificate.

Processing requirements for trophies and hides

Some countries – for example, those in the EU – will only let you import a trophy or hide that has been processed in an EU-approved export premise. Other countries have specific processing requirements that must be certified. You need to arrange this processing in advance.

Export approved premises

If your trophy or hide needs to be processed in an export approved premise, ask them to organise the export certificate – you do not need to complete the online declaration.

CITES permits

Some countries require a Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permit.

A CITES permit allows you to move a trophy or hide that is from a CITES protected species across international borders. 

In New Zealand, CITES permits are issued by the Department of Conservation (DOC).

CITES permits  

Contact MPI shortly before your hunting trip

To avoid delays processing your certificate, we recommend you tell us your plans before you arrive in New Zealand.

Email certs.chch@mpi.govt.nz

Your email should include:

  • what you want to take home
  • your arrival and departure dates
  • the New Zealand airport you're flying out of
  • the country you are going back to.

Complete a declaration and confirm what you are taking home

Certification cannot be given until:

  • after your hunt is finished
  • you have confirmed what trophies you are taking.

When your hunt is finished, complete and submit the online declaration for game trophies, if you have not already done so.

If you have already submitted a declaration, email or phone MPI as soon as possible to confirm exactly what trophies are being taken. This includes final species tallies, final weight, and the number of packages that you will take home.

Declaration form for game trophies

Submission of this form does not automatically mean that an export certificate will be issued. You need to obtain confirmation from MPI after your hunt has finished. The certificate can then be prepared and printed.

Note that MPI is not able to provide export certification outside of normal office hours or on public holidays. Make sure that you plan your trip with enough time available to finalise your certificate.

Picking up your export certificate

The export certificate will usually need to be picked up from the MPI office located near Auckland or Christchurch airports. This must be done during office hours as follows:

  • Monday to Friday (Auckland and Christchurch): 8.30am to 4.30pm.
  • Saturday and Sunday (Auckland only): 8am to 12pm (noon).

If you absolutely cannot get to the Christchurch or Auckland offices during working hours, it may be possible for you to arrange with us to pick up the certificate at Christchurch, Auckland, Wellington, or Queenstown airports (or to have it couriered to other New Zealand locations). To do this, you must first confirm with us what you have shot after the hunt is finished and then allow:

  • at least 3 working days' notice to pick up from Christchurch, Auckland, or Wellington airports
  • at least 4 working days' notice for a Queenstown Airport pickup or another New Zealand location.

Plan your trip accordingly to allow for these timeframes.

The fee for administration and issue of an export certificate is NZ$50.00. To courier certificates to airports for collection (or elsewhere) costs an extra NZ$10, making the total NZ$60.00. Payment instructions are included in the online declaration form. After you have paid, forward your payment receipt to us at certs.chch@mpi.govt.nz

Who to contact

If you have questions:

Auckland office

Christchurch office

MPI business units