New Zealand has very strict quarantine and customs laws and all individuals are responsible for every item they bring or send in. Your arrival card will also ask details for customs and you must answer all the questions truthfully. There are severe penalties in New Zealand for bringing food into the country and you must dispose of foodstuffs before entering.
You can’t bring food off the plane (such as cheese, biscuits etc.). Fresh fruit as well as dried meats, salamis, dairy products, tea bags, coffee, bread are also forbidden. You either have to eat it all or dump it in the bins at the airport. If you are carrying packaged foods, put this in your hand luggage and show it to the Customs officials – if you do not do so, you could be liable for a heavy fine and not be able to enter the country.
The information on the card is required under the Customs, Quarantine, Health, Wildlife and Currency laws of New Zealand. You are forbidden to bring into New Zealand the following: illicit drugs; steroids; firearms or other weapons; food of any kind; plants or parts of plants - live or dead (including seeds, nuts, bulbs or wooden articles); animals or parts of animals - live or dead (including shells, coral and goods made from protected wildlife); equipment used with horses or other animals and biological specimens or tissues - human or animal.
Clean your shoes before entering the country as well as clean every other item from soil, dirt and dust, especially camping equipment, which may spread seeds and pests or carry foot and mouth virus.
Declaration of where you have previously travelled
New Zealand is an island country, and much of its economy is based on agriculture and food. If you come from a country, or have travelled in a country where there is disease (such as foot and mouth disease) which could be infective, you will be required to declare where you have travelled, and make shoes and clothing available for disinfection. Please be absolutely honest about this to the customs officials. Keep such clothing in a plastic bag at the top of your luggage so that it can be easily identified and disinfected.
Duty Free Allowances
New Zealand has very cheap duty free liquor and tobacco products, and you can buy your supplies in Auckland at duty free shops before going through passport control. The shops will tell you what quantities you can purchase without having to pay duty.
The penalties for breaking the quarantine / custom laws are severe and people have been prosecuted for such a reason. If you are unsure about something you would like to bring in, please contact the New Zealand High Commission or Embassy in your country before you leave.
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