- weapons
- indecent publications
- endangered plants or wildlife
- illegal or controlled drugs
- more than 50 cigarettes, or
- 50 grams of tobacco products (including a mixture of cigarettes and other tobacco products)
- travellers cheques
- bank drafts
- money orders, etc.
You may be fined for failing to declare items
You could face a $400 instant fine if:
- you fail to declare restricted or prohibited items
- you make a false or incorrect declaration in your New Zealand Traveller Declaration.
Questioning
- answer all questions on your New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD)
- produce your identity documents.
It is an offence not to do so.
You may be questioned because we want to verify you are a legitimate traveller. A Customs officer might ask you a range of questions to:
- verify who you are
- why you are travelling
- what you are carrying with you.
You can ask our officer to explain why they are asking a particular question, if you need that clarified. You also can request a translator or interpreter if that will help.
Screening and baggage search
After clearing passport control and collecting your baggage, follow the appropriate lanes through biosecurity screening.
Screening
Speak to a border officer if:
- you have goods to declare
- there is something you are unsure about.
Go to a Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity officer if:
- you have organic goods to declare which may be agriculture risks
- you are unsure if you need to declare.
For further information on prohibited and restricted items and what you must declare or dispose:
- visit our Prohibited and Restricted Items webpage
- visit the MPI Biosecurity website
You may be stopped at the discretion of a border officer at any stage through the screening process.
You may not leave the arrival hall until you have completed all formalities required of you by:
- Immigration
- Customs
- MPI Biosecurity
Baggage search
Border officers may search the baggage of any traveller. It's always better to declare items you're unsure about, rather than running the risk of getting caught with prohibited items.
You must make available for examination any item:
- in your possession, or
- under your control.
- wallets
- handbags
- money belts
- the contents of your pockets
- any items being carried by a child who is travelling with you.
During a search, the contents of your bags may be removed and examined. An officer may use any of these to assist with the examination:
- a detector dog
- imaging equipment
- a drug swab test.
Imaging equipment will not damage the contents of your bag, such as unexposed film. Only after repeated exposure might imaging equipment damage film or other material.
Let us know if there are items of special personal significance that need to be handled carefully. If you have concerns about your privacy, please raise this with the officer.
Personal search
An officer may conduct a personal search if they suspect a person is concealing, on or about their body:
- unlawful goods
- goods on which revenue must be paid.
The officer will explain your rights if this type of search is needed. An officer of your gender will carry out this search in a private room. Another officer will be present as a witness.
Communication
For security and privacy reasons, these are not permitted in the search area:
- photography
- filming
- recording
- use of mobile phones.
If you need to contact someone who is waiting for you, tell the officer, and they will consider this.
All our officers are required to protect your privacy. Officers will not answer questions about you or your whereabouts unless you give us your approval to do so. This includes if your friends or families approach officers directly in the waiting area.
Amnesty bins
You will find marked amnesty bins at all New Zealand international airports. Amnesty bins are for the safe disposal of risk goods.
You can dispose of items in amnesty bins if:
- you know you have something prohibited in your possession
- you are unsure if your item is prohibited or not.
Some examples of what amnesty bins are marked for:
- getting rid of excess tobacco products
- disposing of biosecurity risk items left in your bags.
Things to be wary of bringing in
Restricted items
Restricted items you must declare include:
- feathers
- bones
- tusks
- furs
- skins
- hunting trophies
- stuffed animals and reptiles
- unprocessed wool and animal hair
- items made from animal skin (for example, crocodile handbags)
- equipment used on animals, including riding equipment.
Items requiring a CITES certificate
Unless you have a CITES certificate , you will not be allowed to bring the following into New Zealand:
- coral
- clam
- turtle and tortoise shells
- products of endangered species
- ivory in any form.
Print this page Page updated: 03.52pm 03 September 2024
