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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.

Medications

All types of medications are prohibited from being sent via International Courier:

  • Non doctor prescribed e.g. Panadol
  • Pharmacy only e.g. labelled with pharmacy and recipient name
  • Doctor prescribed e.g. asthma puffer, insulin tablets/needle, heart medications
  • Controlled/illegal e.g. Morphine, Methadone, Hemp Seed Oil, Cannabinoids

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.

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.

Delivery locations & exclusions data (Personal)

  • 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.

Download guide (PDF 1.1MB)