Why you're fined for failing to declare
When you arrive in New Zealand you're required to declare all food, animal products, plants, and other specific items on your New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD). It is free to complete the declaration on the official NZTD website or the NZTD app. A paper declaration is available for those who cannot complete it online.
New Zealand Traveller Declaration
You're breaking the law (the Biosecurity Act 1993) if you don't declare risk goods you have in your possession.
A quarantine officer will look at the answers you gave on the card and may ask you questions to assess the biosecurity risk of those goods.
There is no excuse
You're breaking the law if you fail to declare:
- unintentionally
- by accident
- because you forgot
- because you were careless
- because you didn't know the rules or what was in your baggage.
In all these situations you've made an erroneous or false declaration, which is an offence under section 154N(21) of the Biosecurity Act 1993.
In legal terms, it's called a strict liability offence. That means you may have broken the law even if you didn’t mean to. It’s like a speeding ticket or a parking fine.
The penalties
The penalty for a false declaration is an NZD$400 infringement fee – commonly called an instant fine. You do not get a criminal conviction.
However, if you deliberately make an incorrect or false declaration to try to conceal items, the consequences are much worse.
If you're convicted of deliberate smuggling, you could be fined up to NZD$100,000 and be sentenced to up to 5 years in prison.
How to avoid getting a fine
You can avoid the risk of making a false declaration (and getting a fine) by making sure you know what is in your bags and luggage, and the baggage of anyone under the age of 18 travelling with you.
Declare all biosecurity risk goods you have:
- in your luggage or bags
- in the clothes you're wearing (like in a jacket pocket).
Find out what items to declare
What to do if you get an infringement notice
If you're issued an infringement notice you can:
- pay the NZD$400 fine immediately
- pay the NZD$400 fine within 14 days
- request the notice be waived
- request a defended or a non-defended hearing in court.
Pay your fine immediately or within 14 days
MPI has several payment options available, including by credit card or through internet banking.
Find out how to pay your fine, request a waiver or court hearing
If you do nothing
If you choose to do nothing, your infringement notice will be filed with the District Court and demand for payment will be made by the Department of Courts. You may incur court costs.
If you do not dispute your infringement notice within 14 days, you will not automatically be entitled to a hearing.
Who to contact
If you have questions about the information on this page, email fines@mpi.govt.nz
