There are two ways to transfer your belongings to New Zealand – air freight or sea freight. Generally, sea freight is most used as it is a cheaper alternative where belongings are billed per container.
International removal companies
When relocating to New Zealand, many people transport personal and household possessions. International removal companies provide expert assistance when people plan to move all their belongings over. As New Zealand is surrounded by water, all cities and airports are well-served, so waiting times for your shipment time will not be extended.
Requesting a quote from multiple moving companies is recommended before you select the company that suits you best. Shipping times depend on which city you will be moving to in New Zealand. By asking an expatriate or requesting online testimonials, they will be able to provide an accurate arrival time.
While air freight is always much quicker, it is much more expensive than sea transport. This is because air freight is billed by the weight of belongings, whilst sea freight depends on the size of a container.
Below are some international removal companies that will make your moving experience to New Zealand a lot smoother.
Dawson Moving and Storage Pty Ltd (Moving to New Zealand from Australia)
New Zealand Movers – Global Moving Services
The general process of sending belongings to New Zealand
There are numerous steps before/during/after sending your belongings to New Zealand.
- An in-home consultation for your home will help guide you through the process and develop the most efficient moving plan. This generally takes up to an hour.
- The staff from the moving company will arrive at your accommodation on the scheduled moving day and pack all the belongings that will be sent to New Zealand. All belongings will be loaded into special removal cartons that can be easily disassembled, wrapped, itemised, and prepared to export standards. You can also nominate an authorised staff to allow crew access to your home, so you don’t necessarily have to be present for the entire packaging and moving stage.
- A customs export packing list will be compiled, and your packed consignments will be loaded onto the appropriate shipping line container. After, it will be transferred to the warehouse for security sealing, weighing, and exporting. Your container will then be transported to the port and onto the vessel to ship to New Zealand.
- The staff will ensure that all the shipping documentation is checked and facilitate customs clearance into New Zealand.
- After, the moving company will provide you with a password to the tracking system so the progress of your shipment can be monitored easily.
- The moving company will arrange the clearance for your container, collection, and delivery straight to your residence in New Zealand. On arrival, staff will help unpack boxes, reassemble furniture, and place all household items to your satisfaction.
The process for air freight will be the same as sea freight. The only difference is that your belongings will be packed in a protective airfreight carton palletise, suction wrap, or with a particular plywood case. When your moving company transports your belongings, they will be sent to the airport, ready to be moved onto the aircraft for departure to New Zealand.
Costs to be aware of
All quotes provided to clients exclude storage in New Zealand, quay rent at the New Zealand port if there are import duties, taxes e.g., Goods and Services when applicable, steam cleaning fees, and quarantine examination. It is essential to discuss costs with your moving consultant to fully understand the additional expenses you may have to pay.
Preparing before moving day
You must prepare specific appliances before the official moving day as certain appliances can be easily damaged during transportation to New Zealand. Ensure that washing machines are properly maintained as they will malfunction if not prepared well for the journey to New Zealand. They must be clean, emptied and disconnected, and transit bolts must be used to lock the drum in place. Keep in mind that it is not the moving company’s responsibility if any damage is done. All other appliances, including fridges, must be emptied and cleaned. If an appliance has a door that can be easily opened, it will be locked ajar organised by your moving company.
Some people prefer to pack their belongings, so boxes are provided and supplied by the moving company if you use this alternative method. You cannot offer your personal packaged boxes as they need to be appropriate professional quality boxes safe for transportation to New Zealand. Only small items such as clothes, books, linen, and other easily transported items can be packed by you. Other fragile and oversized items must be taken care of by the moving company you have selected. Keep in mind that moving companies are never responsible for any boxes in boxes packed by you.
If you obtain any personal items that are worth over NZ $1000, you must apply for a Customs Number. An application form must be completed and emailed to [email protected] with evidence of photo identification. You will then receive your Customer Number through email.
Apply for a customs number here.
There are some personal and household consignments that the moving company prohibits you from sending to New Zealand. This includes gas bottles, weapons, aerosols, solvents, and paint.
If you plan to send antique items that are delicate and fragile to New Zealand, ensure that your moving company is aware. This is so specifically trained staff for moving antiques will be able to help on the day of packaging and moving your household belongings.
Shipping your vehicle
If you are considering shipping your vehicle to New Zealand, there are some requirements you need to be aware of. Before shipping your car to New Zealand, it must meet the applicable safety and emissions criteria. Moreover, you must also have acceptable proof of entitlement to the vehicle and compliance standards. If your vehicle has never been used on the road, you won’t have to register the vehicle.
Click on the link below to check whether your vehicle is subject to a safety recall.
Safety-related recalls for your vehicle
Generally, people who have brand new cars ship their vehicles to New Zealand. This is because people will always face a financial loss when selling their car before relocating to New Zealand. Furthermore, customers who import their vehicles always consider using them for a long time. Henceforth, international transport shipping companies’ typical clients are those with newer cars. A tip to keep in mind is to check if spare parts for your car can be easily accessed in New Zealand.
The process of international car transport services involves:
- Receiving your vehicle at a specific depot
- Completing a report on the condition of the vehicle before pre-shipping – insurance purposes
- Installing silica gel moisture bags to prevent condensation
- Loading/securing the vehicle into a shipping container
- Transporting the container to the correct port
- Facilitating export customers formalities
- Shipping the vehicle to the destination port in New Zealand
- Cover any port charges involved
- Clearing motor vehicles at destination and arranging for local RTA compliance
Container options when shipping motor vehicles
Though all containers involve securing your vehicle in an appropriate container, there are two container options you must select from.
Shared container service
The shared container service is a cost-effective solution for smaller vehicles, where you share container space with personal and household items headed towards the same destination. Vehicles are carefully loaded and stowed correctly in the container and a sturdy timber frame is constructed around the car for maximum protection.
Exclusive container service
This option includes loading and securing vehicle into its own container. Transit using the exclusive container service takes two to three weeks to arrive in New Zealand, which is much quicker than the shared container option. There is no requirement for protective timber around the car as straps between the towing points and floor-mounted ringbolts are used instead. This will prevent any movement in transit, indicating that the vehicle will always be carefully stowed.
It is recommended that 4WD vehicles, trailers, boats, caravans, and panel vans use this method to decrease the chances of any damage. If keeping to the budget is not a concern, it is suggested that this option is used for safety and speed. Also, it will not depend on the availability of other personal and household consignments or have hazards when deconstructing the timber frame on arrival.
Entry certification process
Before your vehicle is sent to New Zealand, you must find an approved entry certifier and provide documentation to prove the vehicle is safe. The entry certification process is where any vehicle must be checked, certified, registered, and licensed before you can drive the car on New Zealand roads.
Click on the link below to understand more about importing your vehicle to New Zealand.
Importing your vehicle to New Zealand
The entry certification process is only eligible if carried out by an inspector. They generally follow these steps:
- Verify whether the vehicle has met the safety emissions/frontal impact standards
- Vehicle inspection
- Whether the vehicle will need any repairs or specialist verification in meeting the safety requirements
- Whether fuel consumption, CO2, and vehicle mass information are provided
- Confirming who legally owns the vehicle
- Confirming the identity of the vehicle and whether it has a valid VIN assigned
A registration form will then be used to verify that it has passed all the safety measures of a vehicle, and a warrant/certification of fitness will be provided.
Click on the links below to see what evidence is required for your car and where you are moving from.
Vehicles from anywhere else around the world
Moving to New Zealand Checklist
There are numerous tasks to complete before moving to New Zealand, so ensure you have a plan to follow. The Moving to New Zealand checklist compiled by ConsultANZ will help you stay organized, comply with regulations and remember anything important required for your move to New Zealand.
Download the Moving to New Zealand checklist below.
Source: © 2022 Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
