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New Zealand
Check our destination guide for postal restrictions and requirements
Prohibitions
The following items are prohibited from importation, meaning they won't be allowed to enter the destination country, territory or region.
To check which items are considered dangerous and prohibited for sending from Australia, download our Prohibited and Restricted item list and packaging guide (1.1MB).
- Animals and animal products
- Arms and ammunition
- Coins or currency, counterfeit or otherwise
- Live trees and other plants
- Lottery tickets and advertising
- Hair or bristle articles
- Helmets, motorcycle
- Human ashes
- Inorganic and organic chemicals
- Miscellaneous manufactured articles
- Live trees and other plants
- Ores, slag and ash
- Offensive weapons (flick knives, knuckle dusters)
- PCB rubber teats, soothers, pacifiers
- Pharmaceutical products
- Plastics and articles thereof
- Printed articles; books and newspapers- offensive by nature
- Publications or recordings, indecent
- Soil, sand, clay, earth and sawdust
- Tobacco, including chewing
- Unprocessed fruit and plant products
- Wood and articles of wood /unprocessed timber
- Woolpacks.
Transporting food of any kind, cash and perfumes are prohibited under International Courier.
Batteries
All types of batteries and devices containing them (e.g. laptops, mobile phones, wireless headphones and equivalent, power banks, tablets, etc.) are prohibited from being sent via International Courier.
Import restrictions
If an item is subject to import restrictions, it means that provisions must be met before it will be released from customs in the destination country, territory or region.
We recommend you confirm import restrictions with local authorities before posting:
- Animals and animal products
- Arms and ammunition
- Brandy
- Beverages and spirits
- Chemicals
- Cocoa and cocoa preparations
- Firearms and weapons
- Foodstuffs, prepared
- Pharmaceutical products
- Plants and plant products
- Preparations for cereals, starch and flour
- Stamps (unused), unless when sent by International Express or International Courier and sufficiently packaged for protection during transit
- Vegetables
- Whisky
- Wool articles.
Note that for goods imported by parcels post, the total Customs value threshold is NZ$399.
- Unsolicited gifts sent from persons abroad to persons resident in New Zealand are not automatically free of Customs tariff duties and GST.
- A gift sent to an individual with a declared value of NZ$110 or less is allowed free entry.
- Gifts with a declared value that is higher than NZ$110 attract Customs tariff duty and GST on the value in excess of NZ$110.
Introduction of low value goods GST in New Zealand
What’s changed?
From 1 December 2019, New Zealand Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 15% will apply to the sale of low value goods that are imported by consumers into New Zealand (NZ). Online retailers, marketplaces and international businesses selling directly to NZ consumers online, by phone or mail order are likely to be impacted.
Offshore suppliers will also be required to register when their total taxable supplies of goods and services to New Zealand exceed NZD $60,000 in a 12-month period.
NZD $1000 threshold for goods explained
The NZD $1000 threshold for goods is based on the customs value of the goods. This means transport and insurance costs are excluded when determining if GST needs to be charged. All consignments valued NZD $1000 or less can be cleared on an Inward Cargo Report (ICR), a Simplified Import Declaration (SID) or a standard Import Declaration.
There is no change to the current processing of consignments over NZD $1000 – the standard GST and duty calculation will be applied. Where GST has been prepaid under the Offshore Supplier Registration scheme GST would only be payable on the duty amount.
Current threshold |
Current treatment |
|---|---|
| < NZD $400
|
Current treatment No Duty*, No GST, No Import Transaction Fee |
>NZD $400 |
Current treatment Duty, GST, Import Transaction Fee ($55.71) collected at destination border by New Zealand customs |
New threshold |
New treatment as at 1 December 2019 |
|---|---|
< NZD $1,000 |
New treatment as at 1 December 2019 GST must be collected by overseas vendor No Duty, GST, Import Transaction Fee collected at destination border by New Zealand customs* |
>NZD $1,000 |
New treatment as at 1 December 2019 Duty, GST, Import Transaction Fee ($55.71) collected at destination border by New Zealand customs. |
* Except most alcohol and tobacco products which will continue to be taxed at the border.
Further information
Please contact the New Zealand Inland Revenue department to ensure that you are compliant as your business may be impacted by these changes.
Okay to send? Send responsibly.
As the sender, it's your responsibility to make sure your items don't break any laws or rules – both within Australia and in the destination country.
Restrictions and conditions can change at short notice so the information on this page should be used as a guide only. For the latest information, you should check the UPU prohibitions & restrictions (PDF 3.2MB) or contact the destination country's customs, postal trade or government authority.
It's also your responsibility to check if the destination country imposes any duties, taxes, brokerage fees or any other fees on the item you're sending. If you're unsure, please contact the consulate office of the destination country.
Special documentation
In addition to our customs forms, authorities in the destination country, territory or region require further documentation for some items.
New Zealand has no current requirements for special documentation.
Delivery locations & exclusions
Before sending to this destination, it’s worth noting a few more details about our international delivery services.
- International Express (carried via the EMS network) - Parcels deliver to all destinations
International Express - Parcels does deliver to a Post Office Box and Poste Restante.
- International Courier
Check our International Courier page for more details.
Shipments must be lodged at the counter at a participating Post Office (PDF 832kB) by the cut-off time, which may vary by outlet. Please fill out the online CN23 customs form prior to visiting the outlet.
International Courier does not deliver to a Post Office Box or Poste Restante.
Metropolitan delivery to (valid postcodes in brackets):- Auckland (0600 to 0758, 1010 to 2246)
- Christchurch (8011 to 8941)
- Wellington (5010 to 5258, 6011 to 6972)
For more information from the overseas carrier, check the New Zealand Post website.
Make sure it's safe to send
Some items are considered dangerous and unsuitable for sending from Australia, even if they’re not prohibited by the destination country.
