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Legislation used by Customs

A list of legislation that is used here at Customs.


The New Zealand Legislation website provides free public access to up-to-date versions of New Zealand Acts, Bills (proposed Acts), and Legislative Instruments. The following Customs-related legislation can be easily accessed online.

Principal legislation

Used by New Zealand Customs Service to take actions for border management and protection purposes.

  • Animal Products Act 1999
  • Animal Welfare Act 1999
  • Anti-money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009
  • Anti-Personnel Mines Prohibition Act 1998
  • Arms Act 1983
  • Biosecurity Act 1993
  • Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act 1996
  • Civil Aviation Act 1990
  • Climate Change Response Act 2002
  • Cluster Munitions Prohibition Act 2009
  • Commerce Act 1986
  • Companies Act 1993
  • Conservation Act 1987
  • Consular Privileges and Immunities Act 1971
  • Copyright Act 1994
  • Crimes Act 1961
  • Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009
  • Customs and Excise Act 1996
  • Customs and Excise Act 2018
  • Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001
  • Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act 1968
  • Dog Control Act 1996
  • Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act 1988
  • Evidence Act 2006
  • Fair Trading Act 1986
  • Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993
  • Fisheries Act 1996
  • Food Act 2014
  • Goods and Services Tax Act 1985
  • Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 
  • Health Act 1956
  • Heavy Engineering Research Levy Act 1978
  • Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2004
  • Immigration Act 2009
  • Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Act 1988
  • International Finance Agreements Act 1961
  • Kiwifruit Industry Restructuring Act 1999
  • Land Transport Act 1998
  • Major Events Management Act 2007
  • Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978
  • Maritime Security Act 2004
  • Maritime Transport Act 1994
  • Meat Board Act 2004
  • Medicines Act 1981
  • Mercantile Law Act 1908
  • Misuse of Drugs Act 1975
  • Motor Vehicles Sales Act 2003
  • New Zealand Horticultural Export Authority Act 1987
  • Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 (Children's and Young People's Well Being Act 1989)
  • Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996
  • Passports Act 1992
  • Postal Services Act 1998
  • Protected Objects Act 1975
  • Psychoactive Substances Act 2013
  • Radiation Safety Act 2016
  • Search and Surveillance Act 2012
  • Smoke-free Environments Act 1990
  • Statistics Act 1975
  • Summary Proceedings Act 1957
  • Tariff Act 1988
  • Temporary Safeguard Authorities Act 1987
  • Terrorism Suppression Act 2002
  • Trade (Anti-dumping and Countervailing Duties) Act 1988
  • Trade in Endangered Species Act 1989
  • Trade Marks Act 2002
  • United Nations Act 1946
  • Waste Minimisation Act 2008
  • Wildlife Act 1953
  • Wine Act 2003.

Other relevant border protection legislation

New Zealand Customs Service assists other agencies to enforce this legislation.

  • Aviation Crimes Act 1972
  • Biosecurity Act 1993
  • Civil Aviation Act 1990
  • Cook Islands Act 1915
  • Fisheries Act 1996
  • Health Act 1956
  • International Finance Agreements Act 1961
  • Niue Act 1966
  • Ship Registration Act 1992.

Legislation applicable to New Zealand Customs Service as a public sector agency

  • New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990
  • Official Information Act 1982
  • Ombudsmen Act 1975
  • Privacy Act 2020
  • Public Finance Act 1989
  • State Sector Act 1988.