Moving to New Zealand

From Small shipments to full house moves, Appleyards of Hull can move your effects with a professional approach and with little stress.

Importing Household Effects Into New Zealand

To ship your effects duty free,  and without paying goods service tax, you must have already arrived into New Zealand, have been out of the country for a period of 21 months.  You must hold a document to authorise residence in New Zealand, and have owned and used the goods prior to shipment.  The contents of your shipment must be for your own use and not for re-sale or a gift or for any other person in New Zealand.

You must hold a valid passport along with a valid visa before you can ship the goods overseas.. Custom and quarantine declarations must be completed in New Zealand prior to the arrival of the goods

Restricted Items For New Zealand

New Zealand have restrictions on many Household items such as food stuff, garden tools and equipment, sporting goods and outside items.  Wicker, cane, dried flowers and most herbs and spices are also restricted and may be subject to an inspection by MAF upon arrival.  All new goods are subject to GST (goods service tax) and must be declared on the custom forms.

Items that are prohibited include indecent material, weapons of any kind such as flick knifes swords and knuckle dusters, meat and meat products, honey, eggs, pine cones, popcorn and Ivory. It is always recommended that you check your Christmas decorations to ensure pine cones are removed and any sprayed twigs.

Transit Times For New Zealand

Groupage shipments can take between 8–12 weeks from the collection here in the UK to arrival residence overseas.  This can be dependent on many factors such as the volumes to be shipped, bad weather or port congestion.
Dedicated full containers can take 6–8 weeks from port to port and most lines have a weekly sailing.

Customs Clearance In New Zealand

Custom clearance procedure on your goods will take on average five to fifteen days and this would include the delivery to your new home.   Normal custom clearance charges are included in your main relocation cost, but local duty and any inspection performed by Quarantine officials is excluded.  This charge will be paid by our overseas representative who will pay this charge on your behalf but seek reimbursement from yourselves prior to delivery.

Destination Services In Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch

Appleyards of Hull have agents at their disposal for all the major ports above and your shipment can be delivered on a mutually convenient date to your new home.

Our agent will deliver the goods to your home and unpack and un-wrap the goods as was performed at origin.   If you are not ready for the goods when they arrive the goods can be placed in storage with one of our destination agents.  Note any storage charges will be for your account upon arrival and paid direct to the agent in New Zealand.

Top Tip When Moving To New Zealand

Your goods can clear customs ahead of your arrival providing you appoint a nominee to act on your behalf. This can be a relative, friend or employer in New Zealand.

Moving to New Zealand - What next ?

When moving so far overseas it can be a stressful time and understandably you have a lot of information to take on board.  To assist please feel free to give Karen a call to arrange an informal meeting, quick chat and a coffee in our comfortable and welcoming International meeting room.  Please call Karen on 01482 330780 or email on karen@removalshull.com so we can assist with your relocation to New Zealand.