Moving Abroad
Making moving overseas run like Clockwork
Together with our impressive network of international removal partners and agents, Clockwork Removals can operate in any location, offering a door-to-door moving service worldwide.
Moving to New Zealand
New Zealand’s mild climate, breathtaking scenery and high quality of living make it one of the most popular relocation destinations UK citizens choose to settle when emigrating.
If you are planning to move to New Zealand, be it to the North Island cities of Auckland or Wellington or Christchurch on the South Island, Clockwork’s International Removals team can help with every step of your move – from planning and packing to shipping, delivery and storage at the other end.
Understanding New Zealand Customs
Our International move managers are experts on New Zealand customs formalities, importation restrictions, required documentation and duty tax. So, when it comes to what household items you can and can’t take with you when moving to New Zealand from the UK, our guide covers all the essential details.
Importing Personal Effects and Household Items
If you are taking up residency in New Zealand for the first time, any personal items you have owned and used for at least a year before shipping then to New Zealand will qualify for duty and tax-free entry into the country. Any new items purchased within 12 months may subject to applicable tax and duty rates. Certain items are excluded from this category and are subject to other requirements. These include:
• motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts
• boats and aircraft
• alcohol
All household and personal effects entering New Zealand are subject to inspection by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF).
It is not recommended that you include medicines in your unaccompanied baggage.
Packing Your Items
If you choose to do your own packing then the MAF requires that any items that have been in contact with food, soil, plants, animals or their products are thoroughly cleaned and free from any contamination.
Required Documentation
At Clockwork we can oversee the whole moving process for you but you should be aware that some form filling may be necessary. The New Zealand immigration service requires the following documentation:
• Passport
• Full inventory or packing list
• A completed Unaccompanied Personal Baggage Declaration
• Agriculture clearance forms (if necessary)
• Shipping arrival papers
Motor Vehicles
All new or used motor vehicles, including motorcycles, imported into New Zealand must be certified by New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) as complying with New Zealand legal requirements, before they can be registered for use on public roads in New Zealand. Prior to shipping all motor vehicles must have their chassis and wheels steam cleaned and the inside valeted. Vehicles can only be shipped with a minimal amount of fuel in the tank.
To obtain a delivery order for your vehicle you need to:
• arrange an agricultural clearance for the vehicle through the Biosecurity NZ.
• arrange for a Customs clearance
To obtain a Customs clearance you need to present the following documentation:
• Agriculture clearance
• Passort
• Driving license
• Sales or purchase receipt showing total price paid and date of purchase
• Vehicle registration certificate and certificate of Permanent Export
• Invoice showing freight costs and insurance for shipment to New Zealand;
• Odometer reading at time of export to New Zealand
• Odometer reading at time of importation into New Zealand
After Customs clearance, the vehicle should be presented to a Transport Services Delivery (TSD) agent for inspection and a compliance audit for certification for registration.
If you are intending to import a left hand drive vehicle, you will need to contact the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) at PO Box 2840, Wellington or phone 0800 108 809 or see here for more details.
Prohibited Goods
The New Zealand Customs Service will not permit the importation of the following items as personal effects:
• Firearms and weapons (including sporting firearms), unless a permit is obtained from New Zealand Police on arrival at the airport. The New Zealand Police website has more information on importing firearms.
• Prescription medicines, unless accompanied by a doctor’s prescription.
• Pirated copyright goods.
• Objectionable (indecent) articles, such as DVDs and publications.
New Zealand is free of many insect pests, plant diseases and animal infections that are common elsewhere in the world. Biosecurity risk goods that must be declared on arrival include:
• Any food including cooked, uncooked, fresh, preserved, packaged or dried goods
• Plant or plant products including fruit, vegetables, leaves, nuts, parts of flowers, seeds, bulbs, fungi, cane, bamboo, wood or straw.
• Animals, animal medicines or animal products including meat, dairy products, fish, honey, bee products, eggs, feathers, shells, raw wood, skins, bones or insects
• Biological cultures, soil or water
• Equipment used with animals, plants or water
• Articles with soil attached, outdoor sport or hiking shoes, and tents
For further information on emigrating to New Zealand also see:
www.immigration.govt.nz
www.newzealandnow.govt.nz
www.customs.govt.nz/default.htm
www.biosecurity.govt.nz
Testimonials
The Service was of an Excellent Standard from start to finish. Thank you.Madeleine Price / Cannock
Very friendly, efficient and adaptable team and good admin support as well. Overall very impressed and thanks for your help.Sarah Gromova / London
An excellent and highly professional operation. I was particularly impressed by speed of response to queries and the willingness to modify the schedule and services to changed circumstances.Michael Conlon
" I've used Clockwork 4-5 times for shipments to Cyprus. All is basically taken care of as soon as the first phone call is made. All staff from office to packers are extremely helpful polite and efficient..''Tom Smith / Lincoln
Stay in Touch