New Zealand has strict laws to protect its agricultural industries from imported pests and diseases. If you bring in items such as food and plants, these must be declared to MAF officials. Making an incorrect declaration may result in an instant fine of $200. For more serious breaches, such as illegally importing plants, animal materials or foodstuffs, you can be fined up to $100,000 and/or 5 years in prison. Items that need to be declared include:
- food, and the products and ingredients used for preparing food
- plants and parts of plants (alive or dead), including cane, straw and rattan
- animals (alive or dead), or products from animals
- equipment used with animals
- camping gear, golf clubs, hiking boots, shoes, equestrian equipment and used bicycles
- biological specimens.
If you are in doubt about any items, declare them. There is no penalty for declaring items that cannot be brought into New Zealand.
Like other countries, New Zealand has strict security concerning drugs, firearms and other dangerous goods. For more information visit www.biosecurity.govt.nz.
