Maximum Coverage = Maximum Declared Value for Carriage for the Priority™ Worldwide service.

Import Restrictions

Senders should determine import restrictions from the country's authorities before posting:

• animal products
• animals, birds, reptiles and mammals including the egg or carcass
• articles of asbestos cement
• biological products
• bees (alive or dead) and bee products
• brandy
• cocoa
• fish and fish products
• firearms and weapons
• foodstuffs, prepared
• lock picking appliances
• noodles
• pharmaceutical products
• vegetables
• whisky
• wool articles.

Hazardous Substance

Hazardous substances that are imported without the required approval are liable for seizure under the Customs and Excise Act 1996. Importers should ensure that for certain toxic substances, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and crayons obtain approval before the goods are imported into New Zealand.

Gifts

Bona Fide Gift shipments (gifts wrapped and accompanied by a card), can be imported under Schedule By-Law, which allows a limit for Overseas residents to New Zealand residents. If the value of the gift is no more than NZ $110, it can be imported free of Customs charges. If the gift is worth more than NZ $110, Customs charges will be payable on the value of the gift that is worth more than NZ$110.

Gift Parcels

Where the contents of a parcel are intended for more than one person, and the contents are worth more than NZ $110-a multiple gift allowance will be given. This is one condition, however, that the identify of each recipient is clearly established. This means that the gift allowance of NZ$110 can be applied to each gift seperately.

Alcohol and Tobacco

Alcohol may be allowed the gift concession provided that the recipient is able to prove they are genuine gifts and not part of a repetitive import pattern designed to avoid payment of duty and goods and services tax (GST). All tobacco products are specifically excluded from the gift concession and full duty and GST is payable on these imports.

Prohibited Items

In addition to items considered non-mailable matter, the following are prohibited:

• animal manures
• any living stage of an amphibian, fish, invertebrate, including ova.
• agricultural items
• antartic toothfish and Patagonian toothfish
• asbestos
• bank notes
• brushes
• coins or currency, counterfeit
• coal
• chemicals (CFC 11 and CFC 12) and chemical weapons that may be used for manufacturing weapons
• children's crayons
• cloned or hybrid human embryos
• dog tracking devices
• endangered, threatened and exploited species
• false or misleading goods
• fodder
• finger paints
• lottery tickets and advertising
• laser pointers
• hair or bristle articles
• helmets, motorcycle
• gold coins
• iron and steel
• offensive weapons (flick knives, knuckle dusters)
• objectionable material
• ozone depleting substances
• PCB rubber teats, soothers, pacifiers
• plant and plant seeds
• perishable biological substances
• pesticides
• persistent organic pollutants
• prescription medication
• publications or recordings, indecent
• sawdust
• soil, sand, clay, earth and sawdust
• radioactive substances
• radio jamming equipment
• tobacco, chewing
• unprocessed fruit and plant products
• unprocessed timber
• uranium metal
• utensils
• watercolour paints
• wood
• woolpacks
• Whale products.

Goods that are prohibited absolutely include the following:

• advertising matter relating to any goods that are prohibited or restricted to New Zealand
• goods describing or including the word "Anzac", or nearly resembling the word "Anzac" as to be likely deceived.

In addition to the goods prohibited by regulation and or law, the following items are prohibited for import to New Zealand via Priority^TM Worldwide service:

• calm/tortoise/turtle shells
• flammable nightwear
• ivory
• log and timber products from Liberia (Wood-chips, piles, post, fence pickets, sheets, flooring, molding, pallet, tool handles, barrels, crates, tableware/kitchenware, shutters, blinds, cases/boxes/chests for jewellery and silverware, clothes hangers, clothes pins, toothpicks, etc.)
• proplis
• reptile skins (shoes, leather goods, finished/unfinished textiles that are made with or have reptile skins attached)
• straw
• stuffed animals
• whale bone.

Documentation Required

Information regarding Customs can be found in "Customs Requirements" of the Canada Postal Guide.

Document Requirements

The following documents are required for; import shipments:

• commercial Invoice

The following documents may also be required:

• certificate of origin
• health permits, etc.
• import licenses
• import permits
• packing list
• phytosanitary declarations, certificates
• special certificates, licenses and permits.

New Zealand Post Ltd has in house brokers who can undertake the clearance of goods sent via the postal system.

The process of customs clearance means items will be subject to security screenings and the payment of import duties, goods and services tax as well as other applicable charges.