[TJH]

Just over three weeks until we hit the ground in Hawkes Bay - getting excited!!!

Anyways, I had a question regarding going through Auckland Airport Bio-security. Do they want to visually inspect every pair of shoes you are bringing in your luggage or just your tramping boots?

I have only heard tramping boots mentioned and as a result we are planning on just having our boots in our carry-on bags to avoid having to dig them out of our luggage when arriving in Auckland from LAX. But if it is every pair, then that will not likely work out.

[Rubyshoes]

We had a suitcase full of shoes, and they didn't stop us to scan anything. We didn't have any tramping boots with us though.

[BkyMonster]

They had me get some hiking boots out of my luggage and had a look at the bottom. They X-ray all the bags and may ask you to get some things out. I told them I had visited the state fair in the past month with the shoes I was wearing and they had a brief look at those as well. Otherwise they were not bothered about the other shoes we had packed.

[JandM]

Haven't ever been stopped to see anything from inside the luggage. The last time, they did ask me to pick up my feet so they could see the 'tractor tyre'-type soles of my sandals were clean, that was all.

[Ana&Steve]

They asked to see and inspected my tramping boots but they were brand new and they passed us through.
Unshoe related, but another time a security beagle sounded our carry-on and the handler asked if we had had bananas in there...we didn't, just peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and we had thrown the remains away on the plane. She asked if we had ever had bananas in there and we explained that the luggage was brand new. After a few more banana queries, she walked away staring at the dog with a bewildered expression on her face.
Morals: brand new doesn't always keep you out of trouble and don't travel with bananas:)

[YouMeAndThree]

I had 3 pairs of Wellingtons (gumboots) in one case which was picked up on the x-ray scanner. They just asked me what they were, and I explained that they were children's boots which I had cleaned before packing them - they were more than welcome to open the case and have a look. However, I think they took pity on a lone woman travelling with 3 little ones and just let me on through without looking at them.

It was a rather long trip for me, and my memories are fading fast, but I have this strange feeling that we may have all had to walk over a disinfectant mat. Does anybody else recall doing this?

[dilanium]

They looked at our bicycle and our hiking boots, and that's it. We also had spices, pasta, and a whole bunch of other stuff that they didn't care about.

[Jacqi B]

They looked at our bicycle and our hiking boots, and that's it. We also had spices, pasta, and a whole bunch of other stuff that they didn't care about.

Really? spices? I thought I'd have to give my spices away before I went. I guess I can't take saffron in?

[James 1077]

Really? spices? I thought I'd have to give my spices away before I went. I guess I can't take saffron in?

Generally if it is new and unopened then you should declare it and they will let them through.

Biosecurity isn't as tough as most people imagine - I came through with a big chunk of fruit based wedding cake for my Gran a few years ago and they let it in!

What they don't want are things that could either have insects / animals or "active" seeds in them (ie if it can't be grown then they are more relaxed so long as you declare).

[Wooly_Cow]

What hasn't been stated here yet is that you have to fill out a declaration form. It asks about shoes / boots etc, and also where you have been (farms, hiking etc.)

My experience is - declare everything you have a concern about and then explain it so - 'Yes I do have hiking boots but I have cleaned them so you could eat your lunch of them'.....

....I saw one young couple just infront of me who hadn't declared anything and when they were x rayed they had to go to one side and unpack ALL their cases - I think they had dirty shoes, and food and .......

......and that could lead to a BIG fine.

Anyway if your emigrating it's going to be your country so I think everyone would want to keep it free from imported pests and diseases or?????

[Kanga]

Yes, I'm with Jan- we travel relatively frequently between NZ and Oz (which makes me sound way more lush than I am!) and both have strict bio security regs so we make sure the soles of ALL shoes are clean (because the form doesn't ask if you've got tramping shoes, it asks if you've been in a rural area in the past 30 (I think) days) and declare the lot. We also declare ALL food (I let them decide if it needed to be declared or not- so even tea bags), anything wooden etc. Generally I find I get through bio security faster than those who don't declare and go through X ray, because they can see I've declared EVERYTHING and sometimes don't even look.

[DMcG]

Always declare anything that it mentions on the biosecurity form.
You then get to hand this to someone who asks about the state of what you're carrying - so you get a chance to explain everything before they send you off to inspection. Last time I came in with some wooden goblets from Japan and once they saw how beautifully wrapped they were they just said they were fine without opening them.
With my tramping boots, I got to stand on a spongy matt and squish around in disinfectant for a bit.

As mentioned - they're mostly looking for "live" seeds, insects, moulds and the like and they DO take it very seriously. If you try and just bluff your way through and they pick up something on the x-ray they may demand a full luggage search if you're not helpful. If they really think you've been deliberately deceptive - they can fine you on the spot.

On the other hand, if you're helpful, declare and ask about everything - they're usually very polite and understanding. I came through once with a chunk of coral I'd picked of the beach in Samoa - which I declared. But it was obviously dead and well worn and when I told them I was an ex scuba diver and would never pick live coral or even buy dead stuff from a market because it would only encourage "farming" of the live stuff - they were very pleased and let me through without problem.

Dougie

[Parsley]

I came through once with a chunk of coral I'd picked of the beach in Samoa - which I declared. But it was obviously dead and well worn and when I told them I was an ex scuba diver and would never pick live coral or even buy dead stuff from a market because it would only encourage "farming" of the live stuff - they were very pleased and let me through without problem.

They got a bit funny about my step-dad's bagpipes, because the drones are made of ivory. Antique ivory, but nonetheless a declarable substance due to the very tight restrictions on licencing it for import/export. It took him a lot of explaining that he didn't have the relevant CITES (or whatever) paperwork for the ivory - and they're over 100 years old, but he had to be really convincing that he wasn't trying to smuggle stuff in. He's flown all over the world with them and never had a problem anywhere else. Every time he goes to NZ, he gets pulled to one side and asked.

On the other hand, I was really up-front about having been on a farm in the previous 30 days in my footwear and went through with no dramas.

P:)

[frootbat]

Unshoe related, but another time a security beagle sounded our carry-on and the handler asked if we had had bananas in there...

I think those cute little beagles sometimes just try it on for an extra biscuit ;)

I second/third everyone else about being up front with what you have got, then you shouldn't get in trouble, and you might get your walking boots cleaned for you! I got a funny look when I said I had a collar, lead and rubber chicken in my luggage. But when I explained that they were for the dog, they were happy!

[Wooly_Cow]

I think those cute little beagles sometimes just try it on for an extra biscuit ;)

I second/third everyone else about being up front with what you have got, then you shouldn't get in trouble, and you might get your walking boots cleaned for you! I got a funny look when I said I had a collar, lead and rubber chicken in my luggage. But when I explained that they were for the dog, they were happy!

:laugh

[mylesdw]

It is laughable really to suggest that any significant bio-security hazard will enter NZ through the arrivals hall of Auckland international airport when only a few miles away are moored huge ships complete with all the seeds, spores, dirt and animals that they have brought from all over the world. On these ships are containers that have been packed in jungle clearings in Malaya and the slaughter houses of China and these are transported by trucks all over the country. Very few (if any) are X-rayed or inspected and none of the contents are wiped down with Jeyes fluid.

The MAF inspections are there because:

1. It removes money from people without effecting the economy.
2. It keeps lots of people employed for free, by using the money from #1 above.
3. It gives a highly visible impression of 'doing something' about the problem.

Sorry about the cynicism but the facts simple don't stack up to me!

[Potato]

As above, just declare everything. I find they are very polite, friendly and helpful. They seem quite fast to check seeds also.

[petri]

1. It removes money from people without effecting the economy.
2. It keeps lots of people employed for free, by using the money from #1 above.
3. It gives a highly visible impression of 'doing something' about the problem.

That sounds like TSA in the US! They have the bonus job perk to harass people as well. It's also a good economical tool to handle all the unemployed people from the fast food industry.

[Duncan74]

I messed up a bit on the way in. Declared everything, and had packed all the stuff to be investigated in one bag. Where I mucked up was that I had a brand new tent with me, and so even though I'd put handed the material and pegs in at inspection, then they noticed the poles in a separate bag at x-ray and went a bit skippy about that. Not helped by me still being at the other end of the x-ray conveyor loading bags and my wife arguing that there wasn't another tent in the bag... All sorted out in the end with no jail time though.