New Zealand AbD meets



From the Ministry for Primary Industries site, Arriving in NZ - Prohibited items and what must be declared on the Passenger Arrival Card. As someone who always has some snacks along, I was not expecting to see that all food items must be declared for inspection.

https://www.mpi.govt.nz/travel-and-recreation/arriving-in-new-zealand/items-to-declare/
It's the same for entering the US. I always declare what I have with me (healthy snacks). They ask what I have, I list the items, they ask if I have any fruit, vegetables or meats (these are some of the prohibited items) and I am usually on my way. In February we had a nasty customs officer and he decided to send us to secondary for a full check (where they go through your bags). The girl assigned to dd and I asked what we had with us, I told her, she shook her head and sent us on our way (no inspection). We have to declare what we have, or we would risk losing our Global Entry cards.
 


It's the same for entering the US. I always declare what I have with me (healthy snacks). They ask what I have, I list the items, they ask if I have any fruit, vegetables or meats (these are some of the prohibited items) and I am usually on my way. In February we had a nasty customs officer and he decided to send us to secondary for a full check (where they go through your bags). The girl assigned to dd and I asked what we had with us, I told her, she shook her head and sent us on our way (no inspection). We have to declare what we have, or we would risk losing our Global Entry cards.

I've found NZ (and Australia, for that matter) to be stricter than the U.S. when it comes to what they actually allow in. My friend had forgotten about a sealed mini box of cereal that she'd snagged from the hotel lounge during a long layover at LAX, and they actually confiscated it from her bag when we landed at AKL (stopover for a few days en route to CNS to start the Australia ABD).
I frequently buy packaged food as souvenirs, always declare it (usually as candy or packaged snacks), and I've never had any problems bringing it back into the U.S. Occasionally it's been examined, but it's always been returned to me.

I did, however, irritate the customs officer at LAX when I returned from SYD and had declared that yes, I'd been on a farm and exposed to wildlife, etc. The agent was annoyed that my declarations meant he had to pull my hiking shoes from my luggage and send them through additional screening.
 
I did, however, irritate the customs officer at LAX when I returned from SYD and had declared that yes, I'd been on a farm and exposed to wildlife, etc. The agent was annoyed that my declarations meant he had to pull my hiking shoes from my luggage and send them through additional screening.
I’ve been curious about what would happen when returning to the US & having to answer Yes to the Farm visit question, as this will be the first time for me to do so.
 
Yeah NZ and Aust are way stricter with biosecurity as we don't have some diseases that you guys have. The penalties can be quite high, too. The only thing I would be comfortable bringing home food wise would be chocolate/lollies. Also includes plane food. Lots of sniffer dogs working, too
 
Yeah NZ and Aust are way stricter with biosecurity as we don't have some diseases that you guys have. The penalties can be quite high, too. The only thing I would be comfortable bringing home food wise would be chocolate/lollies. Also includes plane food. Lots of sniffer dogs working, too
Thanks for this - that’s the vibe I got from reading the immigration info. Totally understandable- Hawai’i has similar restrictions with many things for the same reasons.
 
Yeah NZ and Aust are way stricter with biosecurity as we don't have some diseases that you guys have. The penalties can be quite high, too. The only thing I would be comfortable bringing home food wise would be chocolate/lollies. Also includes plane food. Lots of sniffer dogs working, too
When we go to New Zealand on our ABD I really want to bring back some Manuka honey. Is that going to be possible?
 
My mom and I are on the March 14 departure! We’re so excited. We don’t have any pre- or post-tour nights booked currently but that might change.
I am booking the March 14th trip with my ds! We will likely go to Sydney for a few days, then fly to Auckland and do 2 days pre ABD. After the ABD we will head to Melbourne before flying home. At least that is the plan for now...
 
@chuff88
Honey
Carry On Bags: Yes (Less than 3.4oz/100 ml allowed)
Checked Bags: Yes
For more prohibited items, please go to the 'What Can I Bring?' page.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/honey
The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.
You'll have to check the requirements coming back to the US (or where you live), taking it out of NZ should be fine, you would not be allowed to bring it in, though
 
We went on the Australia ABD a few years ago. After it ended, we flew to New Zealand for a few days. Then we flew back to Sydney and spent the night at the airport hotel before flying home the following day.

We bought honey in Australia during the ABD trip. When we returned to Sydney at the end to fly home (coming from New Zealand), customs took the honey, even though we explained that we had bought it in Australia! I think it really depends on who happens to check your luggage.
 
We went on the Australia ABD a few years ago. After it ended, we flew to New Zealand for a few days. Then we flew back to Sydney and spent the night at the airport hotel before flying home the following day.

We bought honey in Australia during the ABD trip. When we returned to Sydney at the end to fly home (coming from New Zealand), customs took the honey, even though we explained that we had bought it in Australia! I think it really depends on who happens to check your luggage.
No, even between NZ and Aust they are strict. There are some diseases that NZ doesn't have that Aust does.. it would have happened with whoever checked your luggage.
 
I understand that they are strict, but it was a sealed jar of honey that was purchased in Australia to begin with. It couldn't have any diseases from New Zealand.
 

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