[upnorthkyosa]

Hi Everyone

I'll be coming to NZ in less then two weeks and I'm thinking about bringing some fishing equipment and boots so that I can take advantage of some of the great fishing you have over there.

So far, I'm thinking about bringing a fly rod and a spinning rod, some spoons, spinners, and perhaps a few rapalas. I know there are restrictions on flies, but I'd rather buy those at a fly shop anyways.

So, can anyone fill me on the process of going through customs? What can I expect? What kinds of things do I need to do in order to comply with NZ's biosecurity laws?

John

[kanatakiwi]

I brought fly fishing rods, and indicated this on the box for MAF to look at and they didnt want to have a look at them. My OH has also brought a fly fishing rod in along tube with his checked luggage on the plane and no one was interested in inspecting that at customs either. I think as long as you are up front about declaring that you have them, there will be no trouble. this last trip I also brought home in my checked luggage, a bamboo water spout. (I was told cane and bamboo are a no non but I declared it and the customs guy said he wasn't concerned because it was a new item and as long as it didn't have borer ( the bane of NZ wood it seems) he was not interested in looking at it.

[speckythecky]

OH has a nice bamboo washing basket, I take it we can't bung it in our container?

[srivett]

I can't answer as to the fishing equipment, but on our reccy last year we brought camping equipment into the country. Definitely declare it if it's been used, and it can't hurt even if not. You don't want to risk the fines.

They pretty much just waved us through after a brief examination. If there's soil on your boots or the tent stakes, they'll take them from you for about 5-10 minutes to clean them and return them intact. Ideally you'd do that yourself as much as possible before arriving at the airport. It saves everyone time - we felt a little guilty on the way back through customs having forgotten to wipe down our stakes after having used our tent for the past 3 weeks. Whoops. You'll also want to make sure to pack your outdoor stuff at the top of your suitcases, easily in reach, because they'll ask you to take it out. If it's at the bottom of your bags somewhere, you'll end up unpacking everything you own to get to it. Repacking a bulging suitcase in the middle of an airport is not how you want to remember your arrival :p

Declare if in doubt, and as long as you're sensible you should be fine :)

[kanatakiwi]

OH has a nice bamboo washing basket, I take it we can't bung it in our container?

Again, each case is different, but I was told our wood pieces and bamboo pieces were ok, no sign of borer. The worst that would happen is that they would take it to be fumigated, which might cost more than buying a new laundry basket here !

[Familyofmonkeys]

You can bring most things, even those that shipping companies say you can't, as long as clean and you declare it. We brought over all our outdoor garden furniture, lawn mower, diving gear, bikes, walking boots, xmas trees and decorations (not pine cones), wicker, bamboo and sea grass stuff. We researched fumigation as we assumed that all our wicker etc would need treating. It was cheaper to pay for fumigation than to replace good quality UK stuff, so we took the chance. As it happens, it all passed MAF/Customs etc no problem.