What You Can and Can't Bring Into New Zealand: Customs & Biosecurity
What can and can't you bring into New Zealand? Prohibited items, what to declare on your Traveller Declaration, and the food allowed once declared — without risking the $400 fine.
Prohibited — do not bring
Banned outright on biosecurity or legal grounds — leave them at home.
- Honey and all bee products
- All meat — fresh, cooked, dried, or processed
- Almost all fresh fruit and vegetables
- Soil, water, and used farm equipment
- Illegal drugs, including cannabis
Must declare on your Traveller Declaration
Risk goods that must be declared even when they are allowed in.
- Any food — cooked, raw, fresh, packaged, or dried
- Dairy, eggs, and other animal products
- Plants, seeds, and plant material
- Wooden items and handicrafts
- Used outdoor, camping, and hiking gear
- Medicines (one month's supply, original packaging)
Allowed once declared
Commercially packaged, shelf-stable food generally clears after inspection.
Frequently asked questions
What items are not allowed into New Zealand?
Honey and bee products, all meat, and almost all fresh fruit and vegetables are prohibited. Soil, water, and illegal drugs are also banned. Most other food and plant or animal products are allowed only if you declare them and they pass inspection.
What happens if you don't declare goods in New Zealand?
Undeclared biosecurity risk goods carry an instant NZ$400 fine, and it is a strict-liability offence — forgetting is not an excuse. Deliberate concealment can mean a fine up to NZ$100,000 and up to five years in prison.
Can I bring honey into New Zealand?
No. Honey and all bee products — including royal jelly, propolis, and beeswax — are prohibited from entering New Zealand, even when commercially packaged. This is one of the biggest differences from Australia, which generally allows declared honey.
- It dependsCan I Bring Beef Jerky Into New Zealand?
- YesCan I Bring Biscuits Into New Zealand?
- It dependsCan I Bring Chinese Medicine Into New Zealand?
- YesCan I Bring Coffee Into New Zealand?
- YesCan I Bring Dried Mushrooms Into New Zealand?
- NoCan I Bring Fresh Fruit Into New Zealand?
- NoCan I Bring Honey Into New Zealand?
- YesCan I Bring Instant Noodles Into New Zealand?
- With restrictionsCan I Bring Milk Powder Into New Zealand?
- It dependsCan I Bring Mooncakes Into New Zealand?
- With restrictionsCan I Bring Prescription Medicine Into New Zealand?
- With restrictionsCan I Bring Rice Into New Zealand?
- With restrictionsCan I Bring Seeds Into New Zealand?
- With restrictionsCan I Bring Spices Into New Zealand?
- YesCan I Bring Tea Into New Zealand?
- YesCan I Bring a Vape Into New Zealand?