New requirement from 21 October 2023
Carriers must provide biosecurity information to passengers arriving in NZ
New legislation requires the person in charge of commercial craft carrying 20 or more passengers (excluding crew) to provide biosecurity information to their passengers prior to arriving in New Zealand.
Inspections and vessel clearance
MPI inspectors will need to meet a ship's chief purser or representative to plan the clearance of passengers, crew and vessel to enter New Zealand.
List of documents required
These documents should be sent to MPI at the first port of arrival in New Zealand 48 hours before arrival:
- a list of fresh produce and any documented quality systems used for fresh produce
- voyage memo for the past 2 years
- a list of goods to be landed in New Zealand
- permits for any animals on board. The permits must be granted well in advance of arrival.
Find out more
- Master's Declaration and other forms
- The arrival process for vessels
- Check the list to find a suitable seaport
Download posters for arriving passengers
- Please don't take any food from the ship ashore in New Zealand [PDF, 2.7 MB]
- Help keep NZ beautiful and enjoy your stay [PDF, 7.1 MB]
- Help protect our bees: Overseas honey could carry diseases that could be a threat to New Zealand bees [PDF, 2.2 MB]
Inspections and passenger and crew clearance
MPI inspectors will meet with the captain or a representative, review documentation, and inspect the ship for biosecurity risks.
- Full passenger and crew lists must be supplied.
- Any passengers or crew getting off the vessel must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration.
- Inspectors will carry out clearance procedures for any crew or passengers (and their baggage and personal items) leaving the ship, and examine risk items.
Find out more about arriving in New Zealand
Announcement to passengers
This is a message from the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries.
New Zealand has strict biosecurity requirements for all passengers. Fruits and vegetables can’t be taken ashore. Nor can most meats, honey, flowers, seeds or prepared meals, including sandwiches.
Anything made of plants or wood and used outdoor equipment can carry unwanted pests or diseases that would threaten our natural environment.
Please put any items you aren’t sure about in amnesty bins or leave them on the ship.
If in doubt, make sure to declare any of these items for inspection on your New Zealand Traveller Declaration. If you don’t, you can be fined $400.
Thank you for helping to protect New Zealand from unwanted pests and diseases.
The message should be broadcast over the ship's public address system – including the crew's accommodation area – before passengers and crew go ashore and at regular intervals during the disembarkation process.
If passengers and crew are from non-English speaking countries the clearance message should be broadcast in the appropriate language as well as English.
New Zealand's strict rules about not taking food and other risk items ashore can also be promoted to passengers using videos and newsletters. This will help gangway inspections to run smoothly and ensure excursions are not delayed.
Watch videos for arriving passengers in English and other languages – YouTube
Not arriving at a Place of First Arrival?
For cruise ships arrivals at Opua, Milford Sound or other places not designated as Places of First Arrival (POFA) application must be made well ahead of the start of the cruise season. The form you need is New Zealand Customs Service form 362.
- Download application form 362 – NZ Customs website
- Find out more about arriving at a location other than a POFA
Conditions and arrangements will apply
Approval depends on the ability of the MPI to:
- arrange biosecurity surveillance of vessels and disembarkations in these areas
- ensure the protection of values in areas of protected status.
Conditions are likely to be attached to the approval such as:
- restrictions on the number of passengers allowed to disembark
- assurance or certification of freedom from pests and hull cleanliness
- ensuring pest-and-disease-free meat and fresh produce.
Also special arrangements need to be put in place for MPI's biosecurity risk management to be done at the arrival location, as an alternative to normal processes that take place at a POFA (extra costs may apply).
Milford Sound and Bay of Islands arrival conditions
Conditions for vessels arriving at Milford Sound or the Bay of Islands are:
- Where passengers or crew are landing, specific conditions may apply.
- An MPI inspector must be present – notification 48 hours prior to landing passengers or crew is required, and arrangements made for the inspector to board the vessel, if not already on board.
- Any changes to the intended itinerary or arrival time are to be reported to MPI immediately.
- No garbage shall be landed or waste disposed of overboard including ground-up food through the galley chute while in internal waters. Garbage must be contained so that no animals, birds and insects can access food and other waste.
- No foodstuffs can be removed from the vessel by the crew, passengers, or visitors.
- Ballast or grey water is not to be discharged in internal waters and any boats launched from the craft to take passengers ashore must be clean and free of any hull fouling.
- All costs incurred by MPI relating to quarantine clearance at a place not designated as a port may be recovered from the ship's agent.
Other information for cruise ships
New Zealand Customs has other requirements to meet.
Check the Customs website for more information
Who to contact
If you have questions about the information on this page, email vessels@mpi.govt.nz.
