[BarbiM]

We just had a quote this morning from John Masons, and we asked if we would be able to include any of our wine collection (not enormous but a dozen or so bottles of quite old and expensive wine) and were told that we could not put any alcohol or foodstuffs whatsoever in the container. Does anyone else have experience of this? The chap seemed to think it was a new rule.

We would hate to have to drink/chuck away/give away the wine we have collected, and had also hoped to take some unopened foodstuffs we particularly like.

Apologies if this has been discussed before but I would appreciate any advice.

Many thanks

Barb

[speckythecky]

I hadn't heard that ruling but, if you can carry your wine it might be better.

when it in a container, it would then go on a ship which would then have to sail across the equator with the associated heat. This would probably make a bit of a mess of the wine.

[barryp]

Our shipper had a blanet 'no alcohol' policy for their convenience rather than any sort of legal constraint. Feel free to push back and get better justification.

Customs did ask me a few questions about the wine I brought over (appx 400 bottles) to make sure it's not for redistribution. With a dozen total you have nothing to worry about from them.

Specky's point about heat is correct - if it's really precious you are taking a risk packing it in a container. You could get a styrofoam (or equivalent) insulated package and bury it in the middle of you stuff to reduce the risk of heat damage.

[IanW99]

We were also told by John Masons that we were unable to take any alcohol or food in our container and that was 1.5 years ago now, so not exactly a new rule.

And I have definitely seen people on this forum who say that they have brought in alcohol and food since that time, so agree that this is just John Masons trying to make their life easier.

Would push them for legal documentation to confirm.

Ian

[Pip]

John Mason told us no alcohol when they did our estimate, - we told them when we accepted their quote, that we were bringing our assorted wine collection (approx 24 bottles, some quite decent), and they said "fine,, but don't blame us if you get hit for import tax".

I looked up the import tax and it was a) very low and b)seems to only be charged once in a blue moon..

our container (wine included) shipped out in Mar 07, arrived towards the end of May, - customs had zero interest in the wine which was all declared, and it tastes just fine. With hindsight wish we had brought more than two bottles of spirits, having seen the cost out here...!

I'm really glad that we brought it all, its one less thing to find the money for in NZ..

p.s brought two boxes of food also.. our larder is a veritable feast of Wotsits, Skips, Paxo stuffing, custard powder, Haribo, pyramid PG tips etc, Green & Blacks, tinned heinz pudding etc!..

My advice, - bring any alcohol or tinned/dry food products in your cupboards, if you have the space spare in your container. (there are some threads on what you can't bring). As long as you declare everything and MAF are happy that you're not bringing alcohol to sell, you should be fine.

You will have a lot of start up costs when you first arrive, so every little helps.. or at least that was my experience. Good luck!

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

We were told no alcohol, but I think for the reasons of import duty.

We had very little anyway so drank or gave away what little we had to avoid any problems, but I tend to agree with all of the above i.e. as long as you declare it and there's no suggestion you're importing for resale and profit then you should be OK.

[BarbiM]

Hi all

Thanks for the advice. I think we will go ahead and take wine with us if it isn't a NZ regulation as we were led to believe.

Now all we need to do is sell the house............................................. ................

Barb

[StevieD]

Yeah Barb, take no notice of them, there are loads of forum members who have packed food and drink. The guys who come to pack just ask what you want packing and get on with it, no problems with them. We even ended up with something that shouldn't have come without inspection but they packed it anyway without us knowing until it was turfed out of the back of the van on the driveway!!

Good luck with the move, bring as much as you can fit if you want to have your UK comforts, but there is a good selection of stuff here, and you can usually find UK stuff if you really that bothered about it - albeit at at a price!