Importing goods

What are the legal requirements to import goods into New Zealand?

We provide information on:

• product safety standards
• tariffs
• duties
• parallel importing.

There are links to other government agencies on importing at the bottom of this page.

Product safety standards

Visit the Consumer Affairs’ website to find out about product safety standards, including:

requirements for importers and retailers

mandatory standards and bans.

Tariff duties

If you’re importing goods into New Zealand, they may be subject to an import duty under New Zealand’s tariff system. 

• Find out what duties, if any apply: New Zealand tariffs.

Trade remedies/Duties

If you’re importing goods into New Zealand, first check whether they are subject to any anti-dumping or countervailing duties.

• Read more about trade remedies.
• Read more about dumped and subsidised imports, including:
  • which goods are currently subject to anti-dumping and countervailing duties 
  • criteria for refunds of anti-dumping duty.

Parallel importing

• Read information on parallel importing in New Zealand in the Intellectual Property Policy area of this website.

Information from other government agencies on importing

A range of other government agencies provide information on specific areas of importing.

New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade

New Zealand Customs Service for information for importers.

New Zealand Transport Agency for information about importing a vehicle.

Biosecurity New Zealand for standards and regulations for importing, including import health standards.

New Zealand Food Safety Authority for your legal obligations to import food for sale into New Zealand.

The Environmental Protection Authority for information on:

• importing hazardous substances
• importing organisms such as plants and animals that are not native to New Zealand
• importing or exporting hazardous wastes
• importing or exporting ozone depleting substances.