Foodstuff into NZ
 

Heard about the customs's stringent control on foodstuff passengers bring into NZ. Anyone has experience on bringing in instant noodles, chili sauce and chinese herbal tea (in sachets/packets), etc. Are we allowed to bring in these?

http://www.protectnz.org.nz/ says "Food should not be brought into New Zealand. If it is, it should be declared. Some items, such as canned baby foods, are readily allowed, but items such as meat, eggs, fruit and vegetables, and some other food products, pose a threat to our environment. Specific fresh fruit, vegetable and living plant material will require an International Phytosanitary Certificate (IPC) available from relevant Government departments in the country of purchase."

http://www.quarantine.govt.nz/quaran...are/foods.html says a bit more.

Declare what you bring in and I think they'll probably let you bring them in.

Please note that you can easily buy noodles, chinese herbal tea and chili sauce in NZ. There are bunches of asian market stores.

Hi Chenoa,

Given that you are probably landing in Auckland, you will have no trouble locating asian foodstuufs on your arrival. Auckland has around a 10 - 15% East Asian population as such there are many locations catering for this sector of the population. In fact most mainstream supermarkets here have pretty good asian food isles so I do not think you will have too much trouble finding what you want.

If you have a specific requirement food wise I can always ask one of my Chinese co workers were the best location to buy it is.

Cheers

Steve

My apprecatiion to wilees for the exhaustive piece of information. :)

After reading, I've decided NOT to bring any foodstuff in. To save myself any trouble or worries.

I'll transfer to CHC immediately after arrival in AKL, so shall do my marketing / shopping in Christchurch. Any particular supermarket for a wider range?

I had no problem bringing prepackaged snack foods and candy into New Zealand. Just declare that you have it on the customs form.

The onlly food I brought into NZ was Pringles chips. I made sure I declared them and the fellow waved me through. So I think most packaged things would be ok. BUt better to be safe than sorry.

Of topic, but if you are in Christchurch and want a cheap meal, right downtown there is an Asian food court. All different Asian countries are represented and I got a delicious Cambodian meal. I'm not a very adventurous eater, but I really enjoyed it. ...and it was very filling and a good price.

My wife forgot to declare an apple that she had expected to eat on the flight to NZ.

The officials took it VERY seriously. Even after my wife convinced them that it was an accident...they lectured her and said they had the power to fine her up to $25,000.

I told my wife that it wouldn't have been so bad...because it was in NZ dollars

Just to sidetrack...Would we be better off packing our hiking boots (clean of mud and dirt)in the luggage or wearing them? I heard they are stringent about these too.

If you have walked on farmland/countryside within the last 30 days in your boots you have to declare it and they will want to check them. Our boots were in our suitcase and it was easy to just get them out to get them checked. If they are dirty you have to wait whilst they get them cleaned so its much quicker and easier if you have already cleaned them so you can just cruise through customs. We found customs very helpful & friendly.

Much, much better than risking the introduction of foot and mouth disease.

At least we know that the Kiwis will accept Cheerios.

Neil, I'll trade you some Cherrios for some Tim Tams!!

Hmmm, dunno if they would accept the Cheerios. I left them at home, Neil.
I did want to take the Light and Tasty Cereal in Australia into New Zealand, but I'd read about custom's being stringent in NZ and didn't buy any to bring home.
New Zealand didn't seem as tough as they talk on the internet. However, our tour guide had a lady forget an apple in her suitcase and was fined $200 a while back.
(I thought leaving the airport in Cairns was the toughest of 18 airports.)

Snazzy

It was a shame you did not do any shopping in the grocery stores here in NZ for light and tasty to take with you.

Same brand here, same product.

Steve

I saw it. Didn't buy it at first because I wasn't sure I could get it out of NZ. Intended to buy it at the last minute but didn't have time before the bus left for airport.
Speaking of same product... I thought someone on the boards said Vegemite had a counterpart in NZ but with a different name. The only Vegemite I saw was called vegemite...?

Hi Snazzy

Again same brand same product.

Labelling might be slightly different. However if you liked Marmite in New Zealand and saw Marmite in say the UK you will find it is not the same product.

Between Australia and New Zealand the products are pretty much the same. Quite often out of the same factory with slightly different labels for the different markets.

Steve

$200 is an expensive apple, isn't it?

We take our chances on the local food when we go anywhere, and we've never been disappointed - although we should have taken a jar of decent instant coffee before we visited China. After a day in the US we bought a jar in a convenience store to surreptitiously beef up the weak brew we were often served at breakfast (New Orleans excepted). Apart from that we've done OK.

I'm smiling as I read about you beefing up the US coffee, Neil, because several people in our group complained about how strong the coffee was in Australia and the Pacific.

I'm not a coffee drinker, so I don't know.

We lived in NZ for 3.5 years from Australia. I agree with Kiwi Acct, just about everything was readily available from one country to another. There were a few things like cheese sticks, violet crumble chocolate bars and morning coffee biscuits that were not available in NZ. Also NZ has these great health kids bars that you cannot get in Australia as well as Vogel bread. I am still back and forwards 15 times a year so I am forever taking food one way or the other...seems that way these past 6 years anyhow.

Cut a long story short, so long as food is sealed there are no problems. We went back and forth with babies/young kids....no issues at either end with their food even if opened.

Just one point I noticed on the thread some comment regarding mud on shoes etc. Clean them beforehand or if you would like a 5 hour delay at the airport wear muddy boots, say you've been hiking on farms within the last 30 days and just for good measure add that you have been in South America in the last week. That little combo should put you a good day behind in terms of your plans!!

Cheers
Ned

By now, the title of this tread should be changed. :)

Alright, I'll pack my boots in. What other footwear should i bring along? I'm thinking maybe sandles/slippers and track shoes or loafers. Does this seem unnecessary?

Chenoa, tha't exactly what I took. I had my thick hiking shoes, and also took good comfortable sandals. I wore them most days because the weather was great. But I also took a pair of street shoes ( loafers or sneakers) in case it was too cold or wet for sandals.
I was glad I had all three pair.

I did also take a pair of dressier sandals, but never wore them.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3215649a10,00.html

Hilary forgot her apple too! Although, not sure what grounds she'd be contesting the fine on! Perhaps famous people's fruit isn't itemised individually on the declaration card?

There's always the possibility of being forgetful. Does the flight crew actually remind passengers to declare and not to bring down fruits, etc. again just before landing?

Chenoa -

Flights into NZ usually show a short film prior to landing and customs regulations are made very clear.

still, pple must be absent minded...

With reference to the link above. Ms Swank is paying way more than the fine to fight the $200 charge for bringing in an apple and an orange. Plus radio stations here are having a field day taking the mickey out of her. Pay the fine and move on.

My brother, who is a NZer, forgot an apple he picked up in Brisbane and he carried it in his briefcase into NZ. He did not like it but he paid the fine.

After all the restrictions are there for a reason.

Cheers

Steve

And to think that only last night I saw an interview with the lady in which she was presented as a down-to-earth girl-next-door with no airs and graces who identifies with the common folk because she grew up in a trailer park, etc. I guess she needs the money.

or the publicity.

Just read the article. Sometimes it's useful, even if a little depressing, to be reminded of the sort of people to whom that sad word "celebrity" becomes attached. Dear, oh bloody dear, isn't it pathetic?