[Russell & Sharon]

Sorry I can't find the answer so I'm going to ask.

Can you put tinned and dried food stuff in the container? I have a cupboard full of tins of tomatoes, soups ect packets of un-opend pasta, you know the normal store cupboard stuff. It seems daft to give it all away and then have to buy again once we arrive.

[mossum]

Hi

John Mason have told us NO FOOD !! I wanted to take a catering pack of bold lavender & cammomile washing powder ( because it smells like home ) but he looked at me like I was bonkers & said no :wah

That said I'm sure others have taken food / cleaning stuff no worries - I'm sure someone will enlighten you soon .

vic

[willsken]

Shan't be going with them then! I have a picture of taking half of ASDA with me! :laugh I'm sure others have taken food stuff with them. What were John Masons reasons Vic?

[sarahw]

Firstly MAF would certainly have to do an inspection if you're bringing food in, so that means definite fees, and secondly the containers get extremely hot on the crossing - you'd have to pay me a heck of a lot of money to eat something that's been stewing in one of those for 6 weeks!! ;o)

[K&CS]

We took a big box of food by accident!! Our useless packers had left a box aside that we were intending to take to the holiday cottage we were staying in for our last week in the UK, but they packed it instead. It was full of packets and tins (which we're incidentally now very grateful for). We declared it obviously, but MAF never looked at it! Just as well, because unbeknown to us there was a packet of potatoes in there, which had grown all sorts of extra bits by the time it arrived and a few other things that were total no nos (we binned them as soon as they got here by the way).

All our tins/packets/bottles of wine were fine, but the cadburys chocolate didn't fare quite so well (still ate it though).

Kate

[StevieD]

Vic - correct me if I am wrong, but you don't class washing powder as food surely? How can he say this. It is a chemical at the end of the day. I know I want to put a couple of buckets of Costco's own brand washing powder into the box - (14.5kg for £8 odd!) don't expect to be told no about that!!

[mossum]

Well

He looked at me & said " you seriously want to take a box of white powder ???"

errrrrm yes I do actually & i fully intend to as well - I'm pretty sure the sniffer dogs can tell the difference between bold & cocaine ...... :uhoh

vicx

[Gumbygreeneye]

Dear Vic,

Absolutely PMSL! My wife and I have just erupted into hysterics. Have a reputation boost on me!

KJ

[Smiler]

Well

He looked at me & said " you seriously want to take a box of white powder ???"
errrrrm yes I do actually & i fully intend to as well - I'm pretty sure the sniffer dogs can tell the difference between bold & cocaine ...... :uhoh

vicx

You certainly gave me one of your smiles today too!

I had this vision of one of the celeb pictures, undercover in The News of the World, with Patsy Tara Moss Wossername with a smattering of Bold with 3-1 one conditioner round their ermm nostrils.

Seriously though, I brought tins, packets, alcohol and a huge box of Persil (not Bisto or Marmite) and MAF didn't bat an eyelid at that bit of our container, too busy with the vehicles. :mad: The only thing that didn't survive the journey was my Jif Lemon juice. Looked a bit like a weedy pond.

Is this a new thing with shippers?

[kiwidebs]

Our shippers said the same thing - no food. But you're also not supposed to bring any medication and I notice they managed to pack a bottle of Calpol and a bottle of Night Nurse (both of which were most welcome when we discovered them in our goods!). However, they left an unopened packet of teabags, and some other unopened packets in my cupboard that I'd hoped they'd put in for me. Hey ho.

Debs

[Kim39]

Take no notice, we brought a box of food out with us, all unopened, and as we had stuff for MAF to look at anyway, i.e. bikes and other outdoor stuff we were paying MAF fees anyway, he put the box to one side had a quick look in it and that was that, so long as it's not opened, we also brought two big boxes of washing powder with us, they didn't even look at that, wish they had as it would have saved me searching later on:laugh. Also it's nice to have some familiar food in your food cupboard, and as it can be quite expensive to restock, it could outway any MAF fee's, as some food over here can be expensive compared to wages.

Elaine (Kim 39 OH)

[StevieD]

That's the buckets of coke - sorry washing powder in then!! :laugh

I think they mean things like potatoes :eek: and fruit and veg, which is always on the verge of rotting anyway from most UK supermarkets, only lasts a few days.

[Russell & Sharon]

Thanks everyone you have been very informative. :clap
I shall stop trying to think up meals just using the store cupboard bits :confused:

[marcia]

I've already started stocking up on the persil washing tablets. And When they are on offer oxo cubes and bisto (pick the ones with good sell by dates!) So they'd better not tell me I can't take them! :wah

[becca]

Hello,

My sister took over loads of Bisto gravy granules in her shipping last year and I am in the process of stocking up for all the family. So far I have about 4kg of Paxo in a box!! Apparently as long as it is still sealed and has been processed, it is not a problem. I have taken all of these on flights when visiting and then didn't even want to look at it when I declared it. For anyone who wants to take Paxo, they are doing some boxes at 33% extra free!!

I am considering taking good hair products like Andrew Collinge and that Brilliant Brunette stuff, as it is always on special offer somewhere. Has anyone else done this? Did it survive the journey?

[jubjub]

We had shampoo & stuff in container and it was fine.

If in doubt with anything, just email MAF nz they are great for answering questions, I think they would rather answer questions, than have the hassle of confiscating stuff.

http://www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/assistance/index.htm

[westies]

We used John Masons and bought loads of tinned stuff, as long as its not herbs, seeds, and thing s like that, maf will wave it through no probs, so sounds rubbish what you've been told!!