Site Search and Help

Prohibited imports


The following schedule sets out a brief explanation of the import prohibitions and restrictions that the New Zealand Customs Service enforces at the border.

For further information about prohibitions and restrictions, please contact any Customs office.

Goods

Purpose

Authority

Legislation

Animals, plants, birds, bees, dairy and plant products, and so on Prevent the importation of pests and unwanted organisms Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry/Biosecurity NZ Biosecurity Act 1993
Antarctic toothfish, Patagonian toothfish Conservation Ministry of Fisheries Customs Import Prohibition (Toothfish) Order 2006; Customs & Excise Act 1996
Anti-personnel mines Enforce the provisions of the Convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti personnel mines and on their destruction Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Anti Personnel Mines Prohibition Act 1998
Asbestos in its raw fibrous state Control the importation of asbestos in its raw fibrous state Environmental Risk Management Authority Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
Books, magazines, video recordings, films, computer disks, sound recordings, and so on that are objectionable within the meaning of the Films Videos and Publications Classification Act 1993 Prevent the importation of publications that are objectionable within the meaning of the Films Videos and Publications Classification Act 1993   Section 54 First Schedule Customs & Excise Act 1996
Bulk importations of the following controlled (ozone depleting) substances:
  • CFCs 11, 12, 13, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216 and 217
  • A range of HCFCs and HBFCs
  • Halons 1211, 1301 and 2402
  • Methyl Chloroform
  • Carbon Tetrachloride
  • Methyl Bromide
Aerosol sprays which contain any of the above substances other than Methyl Bromide		 Protect the Earth’s ozone layer Ministry for the Environment; Ministry of Economic Development Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996
Cannabis utensils, such as bongs, hash pipes, hookahs (also known as arguileh, hubble bubble, shisha, sheesha, Turkish, or water pipes) and certain roach clips Prevent the importation of utensils that may be used for administering cannabis Ministry of Health Misuse of Drugs (Prohibition of Cannabis Utensils and Methamphetamine) Notice 2003/ Customs and Excise Act 1996
Chemical weapons and a range of chemicals that may be used in the manufacture of chemical weapons Enforce the provisions of Chemical Weapons Convention Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act 1996
Chewing tobacco imported for sale that is labelled or otherwise described as suitable for chewing or for any other oral use (other than smoking) Control the importation of chewing tobacco Ministry of Health Smoke Free Environments Act 1990
Children’s nightware, children’s toys, certain pistol crossbows, cots, candles containing lead in their wicks, candle wicks containing lead, baby walkers and so on Control the importation of unsafe goods Ministry of Consumer Affairs Fair Trading Act 1986
Cigarette lighters:
  • All disposable lighters
  • Refillable cigarette lighters with a Customs value of less than $3.50
 Ensure that cigarette lighters comply with the child resistant requirements of the American Consumer Product Safety Standard for Cigarette Lighters Ministry of Consumer Affairs Product Safety Standards (Cigarette Lighters) Regulations 1999
Cloned and hybrid human embryos To prohibit unacceptable human assisted reproductive procedures and research Ministry of Health Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2004
Controlled drugs, such as, Cocaine, Cannabis and so on Protect the public health and the public interest by controlling the importation, exportation, manufacture, sale, distribution, use and possession of certain dangerous drugs Ministry of Health Misuse of Drugs Act 1975
Dehumidifiers, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, supermarket display cases, heat pumps, and water coolers that contain any CFCs Protect the Earth’s ozone layer Ministry for the Environment; Ministry of Economic Development Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996
Diamonds orginating from Liberia United Nations sanctions Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade United Nations Sanctions (Liberia) Amendment Regulations 2001
Diamonds originating from Sierra Leone United Nations sanctions Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade United Nations Sanctions (Sierra Leone) Amendment Regulations 2000
Dogs and their semen and embryos.

The Dog Control Act 1996 prohibits the importation of following breeds and types of dogs and their semen, ova and embryos:
  • American Pit Bull Terrier
  • Dogo Argentino
  • Japanese Tosa;
  • Brazilian Fila.
To import a dog and the semen, ova and embryos of dogs into New Zealand, the importer or their agent will need to provide the New Zealand Customs Service with:
  • A declaration which is to be made in New Zealand, stating that, to the best of their knowledge and belief, the dog, embryo, ova or semen is not one of the above breeds; and
  • A certificate from a registered veterinarian in the country of export stating that after due enquiry and/or physical examination of the dog, he/she has no reason to doubt the owners/importers advice that the dog, embryo, ova or semen is not one of the above breeds or types of dogs.
 Community protection Department of Internal Affairs Dog Control Act 1996
Dry cleaning machines that contain or are designed to use any controlled (ozone depleting) substances Protect the Earth’s ozone layer Ministry for the Environment; Ministry of Economic Development Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996
Endangered, threatened and exploited species Protection of endangered species Department of Conservation Trade in Endangered Species Act 1989
Explosives, including fireworks, detonators, gunpowder, smokeless powders, TNT, propellants, igniters, safety fuses, flares, model rocket engines, bombs, grenades, torpedoes, mines, missiles and similar munitions of war that contain an explosive charge, etc Control the importation of explosives Environmental Risk Management Authority Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
Fire extinguishers containing or designed to use any controlled (ozone depleting) substances Note: This includes a permanently installed drench system in a ship, aircraft or motor vehicle Protect the Earth’s ozone layer Ministry for the Environment; Ministry of Economic Development Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996
Firearms, parts of firearms and restricted weapons (e.g. mace, pepper sprays, stun guns, mines, grenades and certain airguns) Control the importation of firearms, parts of firearms and restricted weapons Police Arms Act 1983
Food Protect the health of the public by controlling the importation, manufacture and sale of articles and substances which might have an injurious effect New Zealand Food Safety Authority Food Act 1981
Food – every article whose sale in New Zealand would be an offence against the Food Act 1981 Prevent the importation of food that may not be sold in New Zealand New Zealand Food Safety Authority Section 54 First Schedule Customs & Excise Act 1996
Goods bearing a label etc. which contains a false or misleading representation, such as to their country of origin, quality and so on Consumer protection Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Commerce Commission Fair Trading Act 1986
Hair or bristle from animals including goods which incorporate hair or bristle Control the importation of goods likely to convey anthrax Ministry of Health Anthrax Prevention Regulations 1987
Hazardous substances including explosives, and certain toxic substances (refer Fact Sheet 24 – Controls on the Importation of Hazardous Substances). Control the importation of hazardous substances Environmental Risk Management Authority Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
Hazardous wastes Control the importation of hazardous wastes that are covered by the Basel Convention Ministry of Economic Development Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Prohibition Order (No. 2) 2004
Infringing trade marks Protect the rights of the owners of trade marks Ministry of Economic Development Trade Marks Act 2002
Iran­­ - import of Nuclear weapon, missile, or enrichment-related goods United Nations sanctions Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade United Nations Sanctions (Iran) Regulations 2007
Iraqi cultural property i.e. items of archaeological, historical, cultural, rare scientific, and religious importance illegally removed from the Iraq National Museum and other locations in Iraq United Nations sanctions Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade United Nations (Iraq) Reconstruction Regulations 2003
Knives having a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring, or other device in or attached to the handle of the knife - sometimes known as "flick knife" or "flick gun".

Any knife having a blade that is released from the handle or sheath by the force of gravity or the application of centrifugal force, and that when released is locked in place by means of a button, spring, lever, or other device - sometimes known as a "gravity knife" or "butterfly knife".

With the exception of any folding pocket knives with a blade less than 10cm in length, any knife that-

(a) Is designed for ease of concealment on the person; or

(b) Has a double-edged blade that is designed or suitable for stabbing or throwing (as opposed to cutting)

(c) Is a knife of the kinds known as "urban Skinner", "terminator", "black eagle", "black dagger", or "throwing knife".

Bayonets		 Restrict the importation of offensive weapons New Zealand Police Customs Import Prohibition Order 2008; Customs & Excise Act 1996
Knuckle dusters, knives incorporating knuckle dusters, sword sticks, and any weapon disguised to give the appearance of another article Restrict the importation of offensive weapons New Zealand Police Customs Import Prohibition Order 2008; Customs & Excise Act 1996
Korea – Democratic People's Republic of (North Korea)Military equipment, and weapons of mass destruction ballistic-related goods United Nations sanctions Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade United Nations Sanctions (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) Regulations 2006
Marine mammals e.g., seals, whales, dolphins and porpoises and parts of marine mammals Conservation Department of Conservation Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978
Methamphetamine pipes Prevent the importation of pipes that may be used for administering methamphetamine Ministry of Health Misuse of Drugs (Prohibition of Cannabis and Methamphetamine Utensils) Notice 2003/Customs and Excise Act 1996
Money - false and counterfeit Prevent the importation of counterfeit money not being legal tender in New Zealand New Zealand Customs Service Section 54 First Schedule Customs & Excise Act 1996
Motor vehicles with an odometer reading which does not correctly record the distance the vehicle has been driven; motor vehicles imported without an odometer Consumer protection Ministry of Consumer Affairs Customs Import Prohibition Order 2008; Customs & Excise Act 1996
PCBs and crayons Control the importation of toxic substances Environmental Risk Management Authority Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
Pirated copyright goods Protect the rights of the owners of copyrights Ministry of Economic Development Copyright Act 1994
Plastic foams manufactured using any CFCs:
  • extruded polystyrene foam
  • thermoformed plastic packaging (including, without limiting the generality of that term, supermarket meat and produce trays, egg cartons, fast food containers, disposable plates, disposable cups, horticultural packaging trays and packaging netting)
 Protect the Earth’s ozone layer Ministry for the Environment; Ministry of Economic Development Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996
Prescription medicines Control the importation of prescription medicines Ministry of Health Medicines Act 1981
Prison Goods – goods manufactured or produced using prison labour Prevent the importation of goods manufactured by prison labour Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Section 54 First Schedule Customs & Excise Act 1996
Radioactive substances Control the importation of radioactive substances Ministry of Health Radiation Protection Act 1965
Refrigerators, freezers and other goods that contain ozone depleting substances when imported from countries that are not members of the Montreal Protocol Protect the Earth’s ozone layer Ministry for the Environment; Ministry of Economic Development Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996
Rough diamonds United Nations Kimberly Process Certification Scheme Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade United Nations Sanctions (Kimberly Process) Regulations 2004
Rubber and plastic hot water bottles Ensure that rubber or plastic hot water bottles comply with the British Standard BS 1970:2001 Ministry of Consumer Affairs Unsafe Goods (Hot Water Bottles) Notice 2007/Fair Trading Act 1986
Trout and trout products Conservation Department of Conservation Customs Import Prohibition (Trout) Order 2007; Customs & Excise Act 1996
Tyres Enforcement of safety standards for tyres Ministry of Economic Development Import Control (Tyres) Conditional Prohibition Order 1996