[nickydwuk]

Has anyone had to pay additional costs when transporting pets into NZ? I have been in contact with a kennels with a view to possibly kennelling our dogs with them for a few weeks after we arrive and they mentioned that there would also be extra fees such as the airport terminal fee, MAF fees & customs fees. I thought all fees were covered with the cost of shipping the animals. Has anyone else had to pay additional costs at the NZ end and if so how much? :confused:

[Gemini]

Yes unfortunately there is a fee to pay this end, Air NZ took a handling fee, We paid $78.65 to MAF
and $33.75 to Air NZ. That was for two cats Sept 27th this year.

We had a run around collecting paperwork from MAF - taking it to customs and then back to pay ANZ and collect paperwork to go back to MAF to collect the cats but no separate customs fees.

[IanW99]

Yes unfortunately there is a fee to pay customs, Air NZ took a handling fee, I think we paid around $78.65 to MAF
and $33.75 to Air NZ. That was for two cats Sept 27th this year.

We paid NZ$34.32 to MAF for 1 dog which covers the checking of the vet certificate etc to ensure they have met requirements for entry to NZ.

We also paid NZ$33.75 to Air NZ Cargo as a document fee.

So from above info, it looks like you get charged approx $34.32 per animal and a one off $33.75.

Ian

[Jo Jo]

Yes, we had the same. In the paperwork we got from Golden Arrow it said to take "a few dollars" with us for fees, so we knew we'd have to pay something, but weren't expecting it to be so much. But, to be honest, at that stage if we'd been told it was another $1000 dollars we'd have paid it quite happily!

The MAF fee covers the pet inspection (they check them for ticks, and maybe other stuff as well, I'm not sure) and the destruction of the bedding in the carriers from what I remember. I have no idea what the Air NZ fee covers.

[nickydwuk]

So if we allow up to $200 per dog that should cover it? As if it doesn't cost enough already :(

[IanW99]

So if we allow up to $200 per dog that should cover it? As if it doesn't cost enough already :(

You shouldn't need that much, I worked it out for 4 dogs the total cost should be NZ$171.03 or approx £68 which is nothing compared to the cost of shipping them over.

One thing to note, for us we had to send a cheque to MAF to pay their fees where payment is required within 21 days, whilst the document fee had to be paid on the spot.

Ian

[nickydwuk]

One thing to note, for us we had to send a cheque to MAF to pay their fees where payment is required within 21 days, whilst the document fee had to be paid on the spot.

Ian

The kennels I have contacted in NZ have said they can collect the dogs from the airport and will pay the fees on our behalf. They will then add that to our bill when we collect the dogs from them. That would negate the need for us to pay the fees on the spot - unless we don't kennel them. $171 doesn't sound to bad compared to the £?????? it will cost to ship them over.

I was told that this immigration lark is a bottomless pit when it comes to money - they weren't wrong :p