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Advice for licensed manufacturing areas affected by earthquake

12.00am 14 November 2016

Customs is aware the 7.5 magnitude earthquake, which struck in North Canterbury on Monday 14 November, may have caused stock damage or loss for licensed manufacturers of alcohol, particularly in the Wellington, Wairarapa, and Nelson Marlborough regions.


We wish to remind affected clients there is provision in the Customs & Excise Regulations 1996 for remission of duty on goods that are:

  • Damaged or deteriorated in condition; or
  • Destroyed or lost.

The goods must have been damaged or lost while still in the control of Customs.

A report of damaged or lost stock should be made to your local Customs office. Licensees should gather as much information as possible, including photographs, to support their claim. 

Please note the Wellington Customhouse is currently closed, remission requests will be processed when normal service resumes.

If licensees in these areas need to urgently move stock to prevent further loss or damage, they should do so and will not be required to obtain a permit prior to the removal. Detailed records of the stock that is moved, and to where, must be kept, and forwarded by email to the appropriate office for their action as soon as possible.

For urgent enquiries regarding stock in your Customs Controlled Area, contact us on 0800 4 CUSTOMS (0800 4 28786).