Customs designated airports
The Customs and Excise Act 1996 (the Act) requires that all overseas aircraft must arrive at or depart from a Customs place (Customs airport). The only exceptions to this are when extraordinary circumstances prevent that occurring, such as an emergency situation; or when approved by the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs Service when special circumstances exist.
The New Zealand airports where overseas aircraft may land at or depart from are designated as Customs airports under Section 9(1) of the Act. In some instances the Chief Executive has imposed conditions and restrictions on the airport in accordance with Section 9(2) of the Act.
Under Regulation 3(b) of the Customs and Excise Regulations 1996 (the Regulations) the Chief Executive may determine the working hours of Customs at these airports. Outside of those hours or where “no working hours of Customs” have been determined, Customs charges may be levied as per Customs Regulations 4 and 5.
At some airports, Customs officers are only in attendance when processing scheduled international services. Apart from Palmerston North and Rotorua airports that require 3 days’ notice, all non-scheduled aircraft (including private, charter, corporate, etc) should provide at least 24 hours prior notice of the estimated time of arrival or departure of the aircraft in New Zealand by emailing the details to: ntc.trade.evaluators@customs.govt.nz. Your request will be acknowledged and referred to the local Customs office where the aircraft will arrive at or depart from.
Note: A separate process applies to requests for aircraft to arrive at or depart from places not designated as Customs airports.
Customs airports and working hours of Customs
Below is a list of Customs airports.
The list also shows the working hours of Customs determined by the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs Service at each airport. As this forms part of a legal process that can result in changes at short notice, the information should be used as a guide only.
Auckland International Airport Ltd
The current international flight schedule at Auckland airport requires Customs to have staff on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Christchurch International Airport Ltd
The current international flight schedule at Christchurch Airport requires Customs to have staff on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Dunedin International Airport Ltd
The current international flight schedule at Dunedin airport requires Customs to have staff on site as shown below:
Working hours of Customs – 01.12.09 to 31.01.10
| Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Sunday |
| 1315-1645 |
1400-1730 |
|
1330-1730 |
1315-1645 |
|
1400-1730 |
Working hours of Customs – 01.02.10 to 27.03.10
| Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Sunday |
| |
1400-1730 |
|
1400-1730 |
|
|
1400-1730 |
Working hours of Customs – 28.03.10 to 21.04.10
| Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Sunday |
| |
1400-1730 |
1330-1700 |
1400-1730 |
|
1330-1700 |
1400-1730 |
Working hours of Customs – 22.04.10 to 09.10.10
| Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Sunday |
| |
1330-1730 |
|
1400-1730 |
|
1330-1700 |
1400-1730 |
Hamilton - Waikato Regional Airport Ltd
Hamilton airport is a designated Customs airport with no specific conditions or restrictions currently imposed; and effective from 22 April 2009 there are no working hours of Customs determined under Regulation 3(b) of the Customs and Excise Regulations 1996.
Palmerston North Airport Ltd
There are no working hours of Customs determined under Regulation 3(b) of the Customs and Excise Regulations 1996.
Palmerston North airport is designated as a Customs place with the following conditions and restrictions imposed on the airport company:
- Palmerston North Airport Limited must obtain Customs’ prior approval for any international arrival at or departure from Palmerston North Airport.
- Palmerston North Airport Limited will give the Customs Service at least 3 working days’ notice of the proposed arrival or departure of any international flight at or from Palmerston North Airport. Palmerston North Airport Limited will not allow the arrival or departure of any international flights carrying a combined total of passengers and crew in excess of 12 without the prior permission of the Customs Service.
Queenstown Airport Corporation Ltd
Working hours of Customs – From 01.10.09 until further notice:
| Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Sunday |
| |
1400-1730 |
1230-1600 |
|
|
1200-1700 |
1300-1630 |
Rotorua International Airport Ltd
There are no working hours of Customs determined under Regulation 3(b) of the Customs and Excise Regulations 1996.
Rotorua airport is designated as a Customs place with the following conditions and restrictions imposed:
- That the arrival and departure of aircraft at Rotorua airport shall be limited to scheduled international passenger services only, to the exclusion of air freight operations.
- That Rotorua International Airport Ltd must obtain Customs’ prior approval for any non-scheduled international arrivals at or departures from Rotorua Airport, and give at least three working days’ notice in seeking such approvals.
Wellington International Airport
Working hours of Customs – From 25.10.09 until further notice:
| Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Sunday |
0400-0800
1300-1700
2200-0130 |
0400-0800
1300-1700
2200-0130 |
0400-0800
1300-1700
2200-0130 |
0400-0800
1300-1700
2200-0130 |
0400-0800
1300-1700
2200-0130 |
0400-0800
1300-1700
2200-0130 |
0400-0800
1300-1700
2200-0130 |