Short answer: Every traveller arriving in New Zealand completes a New Zealand Traveller Declaration and must declare risk goods such as food, plant and animal products and used outdoor gear. An incorrect declaration, even by accident, can bring an instant fine of NZ$400, so Explera DMC New Zealand briefs groups before they pack, as at October 2026.
Biosecurity is the part of entry that agents tend to forget, because it is not a visa. It is also the one that can delay a whole coach at the airport. This guide covers what the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) asks of arriving travellers and how to brief a group. For visas and the NZeTA, see our entry requirements guide.
The declaration
- It is free. MPI says a digital declaration is free, on the official website or in the app.
- Everyone completes one. All travellers must complete a declaration, even those with nothing to declare.
- When. Complete it before reaching passport control. MPI notes it can be done on board if the flight has Wi-Fi. A paper form is available on arrival for those who cannot use the app.
Ask each group leader to remind clients to finish it before landing, and to keep answers complete. MPI says incomplete answers about risk goods can lead to a fine or prosecution if items are found on inspection.
What must be declared
MPI's list of risk goods includes:
- Food of any kind, whether cooked, fresh, packaged or dried.
- Animal products, including meat, dairy, honey, eggs, feathers, shells and raw wool.
- Plants, seeds, soil and water.
- Used outdoor equipment. MPI names footwear, tents, camping, hunting, hiking, golf and sports gear that has been used outdoors.
If a client is unsure, the rule is to declare it or put it in the biosecurity bins at the airport. Declared gear may be inspected, so keep it easy to reach in the luggage.
Boots, tents and other outdoor gear
Walking groups are the most affected. MPI asks that used hiking and sporting footwear, including gaiters, be cleaned before arrival and free of soil and seeds. MPI also recommends leaving felt-soled waders at home, because they are likely to be seized at the border.
Tell clients to clean boots and bags at home, not in the hotel on the way to the airport. Our Great Walks guide lists what walkers bring.
Fines
- Failing to declare risk goods, even unintentionally, can mean an instant fine of NZ$400.
- Deliberate concealment can lead to a fine of up to NZ$100,000, prosecution and imprisonment, according to MPI.
Fines are set by the government and can change, so confirm the figure on the MPI site when you brief clients.
Farm visits and foot-and-mouth disease
MPI applies extra border requirements for passengers from countries with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and the list of countries is on its website. Travellers must declare contact with livestock. MPI also sets a one-week stand-down before travellers from affected countries go onto a New Zealand farm or have contact with susceptible animals. That matters for any programme with a farm stay or a farm visit in the first week, so ask for each group's last farm contact at booking.
A short client briefing
- Complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration before landing.
- Declare food, plants and animal products, or leave them at home.
- Clean boots, tents and outdoor gear, and declare them.
- Tell us about farm or livestock contact before travel.
Add these four lines to the pre-departure notes. Our pre-departure briefing guide lists the rest.
How Explera DMC New Zealand can help
We include the biosecurity points in the arrival notes for group tours and walking programmes, and we plan the first night near the airport so a delayed inspection does not push the programme.
FAQ
Is the New Zealand Traveller Declaration free? Yes. MPI says the digital declaration is free. A paper form is available on arrival.
What is the fine for failing to declare? An instant fine of NZ$400 can apply, even when the omission is accidental. Deliberate concealment can bring far higher penalties.
Do hiking boots have to be declared? Used outdoor footwear should be cleaned before arrival and declared, because soil and seeds are biosecurity risks.
Does farm contact matter? Yes. Travellers must declare contact with livestock, and travellers from countries with FMD face a one-week stand-down before going onto a New Zealand farm.
Sources
- Why you're fined for failing to declare, Ministry for Primary Industries
- About the New Zealand Traveller Declaration, New Zealand Government
- Reducing FMD risk at the border, Ministry for Primary Industries
Talk to the trade desk
Explera DMC New Zealand trade desk — b2b@explera.co.nz, WhatsApp +66 93 656 8090, B2B portal b2b.expleradmc.com.
