Biosecurity is taken very seriously here. The arrival card asks specific questions, and detector dogs and x-ray machines back it up. Declaring something risky is free and easy; failing to declare it is where the trouble starts.
What you must declare
- All food: fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, honey, snacks, even sealed and packaged items.
- Plant material: seeds, flowers, wooden carvings and straw products.
- Animal products: feathers, shells, bone and untreated wool.
- Outdoor and sports gear: hiking boots, tents, fishing equipment, golf clubs and bikes that have touched soil, water or grass.
Clean your gear
Used hiking boots are a common catch. Clean off all soil and seeds before you pack them, because dirty footwear can carry organisms that threaten native forests and farmland. The same goes for tent pegs, bike tyres and fishing waders. Clean gear is usually waved through; dirty gear may be cleaned, treated or held.
What is banned or restricted
- Fresh fruit and vegetables, honey, and many meat and dairy products are not allowed in.
- Ivory, certain wildlife products and some medicines are restricted or prohibited.
- Even if an item is allowed, it must still be declared so an officer can check it.
Fines and how it works
Failing to declare a risky item can bring an instant fine of several hundred dollars, and serious cases carry far higher penalties. There is an amnesty bin before the checkpoint where you can dump any food with no penalty. If you declare honestly, the worst case is usually that the item is taken away.
What is usually fine
Plenty of everyday items pass through without trouble, as long as you declare anything in doubt. Commercially packaged and sealed snacks, chocolate, coffee and tea are generally fine. Manufactured goods, clothing and toiletries are not a biosecurity concern. The issue is almost always fresh produce, anything that has been alive, and gear that has been in the outdoors.
Other rules at the border
- You can bring a reasonable quantity of duty-free alcohol and tobacco; larger amounts attract duty.
- Cash of NZ$10,000 or more, in any currency, must be declared.
- Bring prescription medicines in their original packaging with the script or a doctor's letter, and check any restricted ones in advance.
How the airport works
After you collect your bags you pass through the biosecurity area, where staff read your arrival card and detector dogs may sniff your luggage. Items you declared are checked and either returned, treated or kept. It is straightforward if you have been honest. The whole point is to protect New Zealand's farms, forests and native wildlife from pests and diseases, which is why the checks are thorough rather than a formality.
The simple rule
Tick yes on the arrival card if you have any doubt, and let the officer decide. It costs you nothing and saves a fine. Biosecurity rules and prohibited-item lists are updated regularly, so check the Ministry for Primary Industries (Biosecurity New Zealand) guidance before you fly.