Cost

One of the bigger expenses you face in coming to live in New Zealand is the cost of relocation. The New Zealand Now website has more information on the things you need to consider and the options available.

New Zealand Now website

Storage

If you need to store part or all of your household possessions in Wellington before or after your arrival, different companies offer a variety of storage options throughout the region. It is probably best to negotiate this with the company you use to get your possessions to New Zealand.

Insurance

When bringing your belongings to New Zealand, it is advisable to have them covered by insurance while in transit. Transit insurance covers the cost of lost or damaged items in their transit from one place to the other. Storage insurance covers the cost of loss or damage to items while they are in storage.

Bringing Pets

Strict rules apply to bringing pets into New Zealand. Biosecurity New Zealand manages biosecurity and Customs New Zealand manages border traffic and customs duties. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has different rules for animals coming from different countries. Some pets may be exempt from some requirements. Others may need a vet certificate before being sent to New Zealand.

• Biosecurity New Zealand website
• Your Pets - Biosecurity New Zealand website
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry website

Dog owners in New Zealand must adhere to city council bylaws. This involves paying fees, registering one’s dog by 1 July every year, and microchipping.

Almost all dogs must be microchipped, including those that have been brought into the country. The only exemptions are farm dogs used mainly for herding and driving stock.

Owners of unregistered dogs, and those not microchipped, face prosecution or fines up to $3000 in addition to the registration fee. The fees structure is designed to reward good dog ownership.

• Dog Registration
• Animal Services - Hutt City Council website
• Animal Control - Kapiti Coast District Council website

There are special rules for the ownership of other animals too including bees, birds and goats. There are no special rules or regulations that apply especially to cats.

Animals

Bringing Electrical Appliances

If you intend to bring your electrical appliances to New Zealand, you need to be aware that New Zealand’s electrical voltage is 230v/50Hz.

Foreign appliances need:

• plug adapters to make their plugs compatible with New Zealand sockets, and
• a voltage converter - if the appliance cannot handle the New Zealand electrical voltage.

Many laptop computers come with power supplies that can adapt to different places in the world but people should check the manufacturer's label to be sure.

Customs

The New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) manages border traffic and customs duties. New Zealand residents who have been out of New Zealand for 21 months or longer, and new immigrants with residents' visas, are exempt from paying customs duties on their personal and household belongings.

If you are not eligible for this concession (for example, if you are on a work to residence visa), then you can expect to pay custom duties on the belongings that you bring into the country. Duty rates vary between the kinds of goods that are brought into the country.

Customs concessions are currently under review so it pays to check with Customs first before making any decision.

• New Zealand Customs Service website
• Customs Charges - New Zealand Customs Service website