ImportingInto New Zealand
End-to-end import services for NZ businesses. Freight forwarding, MPI biosecurity clearance, customs brokerage, FTA duty optimisation, and delivery — from any origin to anywhere in New Zealand.
How We Manage Your Import
Pre-Shipment Advice
Before your goods leave origin, we review the commodity, country of origin, and supplier documents. We identify MPI requirements, FTA eligibility, import permit needs, and any red-flag issues that are far cheaper to fix before the container ships.
Freight Booking & Origin Coordination
We book the most cost-effective and time-appropriate mode — air, ocean FCL, or ocean LCL. We coordinate with your supplier or our origin agent for collection, export customs, and loading.
In-Transit Monitoring
Real-time vessel and flight tracking. We monitor estimated arrival dates against your deadlines and flag any schedule changes proactively so you can adjust receiving plans.
Pre-Arrival Customs Lodgement
Our customs brokers prepare and lodge your import entry with NZ Customs before the vessel or flight arrives. Pre-lodgement means your goods can be released faster and MPI inspection can be scheduled in advance.
MPI Biosecurity Clearance
All regulated commodities are declared to MPI. We manage inspection bookings at our Drury container inspection bay, arrange treatment orders (heat treatment, fumigation, cleaning) if required, and obtain clearance before goods leave the port area.
Duty, GST & FTA Optimisation
We calculate applicable duty rates and check every shipment for FTA eligibility. If your goods qualify under ChAFTA, AANZFTA, CPTPP, or other agreements, we claim the preferential rate. Many importers overpay duty because they are not claiming the right rate.
Port Release & Delivery
Once customs and MPI clearance is granted, we arrange port release, container transport to our Drury devanning facility or direct delivery, and last-mile to your door or warehouse.
MPI Biosecurity by Commodity
New Zealand has some of the strictest biosecurity requirements in the world. Requirements vary significantly by commodity type.
Food & Food Ingredients
Import Health Standard (IHS) may apply. Country of origin, manufacturing facility, and ingredient detail reviewed by MPI. Some products require testing on arrival.
Plant Material & Seeds
Strict biosecurity. Phytosanitary certificate from origin country required. Inspection on arrival mandatory. Prohibited plant material may be seized and destroyed.
Animal Products (meat, seafood, dairy)
Health certificate from country of origin. MPI veterinary officer inspection. Cold-chain documentation required throughout.
Timber & Wood Products
Solid wood packaging must be ISPM-15 treated. Raw timber requires phytosanitary certificate and may require treatment on arrival.
Used Equipment & Machinery
Must be inspected for soil, plant material, and animal contamination. Treatment (cleaning, heat treatment, or fumigation) required if contaminated. We have an inspection bay at Drury.
Vehicles
Must be clean of soil, organic material, and biosecurity risk. JEVIC inspection in Japan for used Japanese vehicles. MPI inspection on arrival in NZ.
Key Import Origins
China
Highest-volume import origin for NZ. ChAFTA preferential rates apply where goods meet rules of origin — CO Form E required from Chinese exporter. GACC facility registration required for food exporters. Pre-lodgement standard. China is our single largest shipping lane by volume.
South East Asia
AANZFTA duty reductions for ASEAN-origin goods (Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines). Halal certification review for food products into NZ retail supply chains. Direct services from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to Auckland weekly.
India
NZ–India FTA signed in 2024 — phased tariff reductions now applying to many Indian-origin goods. Growing source for textiles, pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, and food ingredients. Check current phase-in schedule for your commodity.
Europe
NZ–UK FTA for UK-origin goods with phased duty reductions. EU-origin goods at standard MFN duty. Strong source for food-grade machinery, branded consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. Transshipment typically via Singapore or Hong Kong for ocean.
USA
No FTA — standard MFN duty and 15% GST apply. Key source for technology, industrial machinery, agricultural inputs, and medical equipment. Air freight dominant for time-sensitive US-origin goods. Transit 2–3 days Los Angeles to Auckland.
Australia
NZAFTA — all qualifying Australian-origin goods enter NZ duty-free. Trans-Tasman is the most straightforward import lane. Short transit times (2–4 days ocean, overnight air). Growing pharmaceutical, food ingredient, and industrial supply lane.
Import FAQs
What do I need to import goods into New Zealand?
You need: a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, and (if applicable) an import permit, health certificate, or phytosanitary certificate. Goods above NZD $1,000 in value require a formal customs entry lodged by a licensed customs broker. We handle all of this on your behalf.
How long does it take to clear customs in New Zealand?
Most green-channel import entries clear within 2–4 hours of lodgement. We pre-lodge before vessel or flight arrival to minimise clearance time. MPI biosecurity inspections add 1–3 business days depending on the commodity and inspection workload. High-risk goods, documentary queries, or Customs exams extend this further — our team manages proactively.
What is an Import Health Standard (IHS) and do I need one?
An Import Health Standard is a set of biosecurity requirements issued by MPI for specific commodity categories entering New Zealand. If your product falls under an IHS (many food, plant, and animal-product categories do), the goods must meet the standard before or at the border. We check every shipment against current IHS requirements and advise you before goods ship from origin.
Can you handle imports from China including customs and MPI?
Yes. China is our highest-volume import origin. We manage ChAFTA duty reduction, MPI biosecurity clearance (including GACC facility requirements for food), customs entry lodgement, and delivery into our Auckland warehouses or direct to your facility.
What happens if my goods fail MPI inspection?
If goods fail MPI inspection, they can be treated (cleaned, heat-treated, or fumigated) to meet biosecurity requirements, re-exported to origin, or in the worst case, destroyed at your cost. Our approach is to identify and resolve issues before goods ship where possible — which is why pre-shipment advice is part of our service.
How do I know if my goods qualify for reduced duty under an FTA?
FTA eligibility depends on the rules of origin for your specific product under the applicable agreement. The rules differ by agreement and tariff code — some require a percentage of local content, others require a change in tariff heading. Our customs brokers assess every shipment for FTA eligibility and advise your supplier on the Certificate of Origin format required. If you are not sure whether your current supplier can provide a qualifying CO, contact us before the goods ship.