All commercial craft arriving in New Zealand must report to a place which is both an approved port of first arrival and a Customs place. This is required by New Zealand law.
Arrival at an area other than a nominated Customs place can only be done in an emergency, or with prior written approval.
Applications for approval must be submitted in writing, before the vessel's arrival, to both the New Zealand Customs Service and the Ministry for Primary Industries as detailed below.
Anchoring
Any commercial craft wanting to anchor in waters outside a Customs place prior to entering a port of entry, must obtain permission to do so.
Shipping agents will need to apply to Customs and the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Contact us
New Zealand Customs Service
National Contact Centre
Email: apicustodian@customs.govt.nz.
New Zealand Customs Service at the first port at which the vessel is to arrive, or the Customs office nearest to that port.
Ministry for Primary Industries
Programme Manager
Technical Advisor
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Phone: +64 4 894 0483
Fax: +64 4 470 2730
Email: mikea@mpi.govt.nz
See also Information pack for cruise ships.