Customs rates of exchange

About Customs rates of exchange

If you buy or are sent an item from overseas, and the amount declared is not in New Zealand currency, the amount must be converted into New Zealand dollars at a fair rate of exchange.

Rates of exchange used by Customs are set for a two-week period and are published 11 days in advance. These rates may differ slightly from the currency rates published by trading banks.

The rate of exchange will be applied at the date an entry has been made. This happens on the day an electronic clearance for your goods has been submitted to Customs. 

Note: the rate of exchange will not be applied to the date of purchase or the date when your goods have arrived in New Zealand.

About currencies not on the published list

For any currencies that are not in the published list, rates of exchange should be accessed online from a New Zealand bank, and for consistency the bank “sell rate” should be used.

If the currency is not listed by a New Zealand bank, the rate should be obtained from an online foreign exchange site (eg, a money exchange). The currency should be converted to New Zealand dollars. The New Zealand dollar amount can then be used on the entry.

The declarant should make comments in the TSW lodgement remarks about what they have done.