Xmas Decorations

abourmike · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 9:47 am Post subject: Xmas Decorations

Is it worth fetching our Xmas decorations over with us, as we are writing a list of things to bring and things to leave at the moment, and are unsure on how christmas is celebrated over there?
Will our artificial tree with SNOW on it look ridiculous in the middle of summer?
We have two young children so Xmas is important to us, but we have never had experienced one in summer before.
What is a typical Christmas in New Zealand like?

Any advice on this matter would be most appreciated.

Thanks.

veronica · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 3:41 pm Post subject:

Can't say what its like in NZ but we used to live in OZ and it was pretty much still christmas, except we cranked up the air con. ,had a lighter christmas dinner and went down the beach for the last part of the day. But you make the sort of Chistmas you and your family want and if the tree is important to you guys then do it. (A tree outside with lights on is my favourite bit of christmas)

martwend · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 8:10 pm Post subject:

Hi,

MAF are fussy about Xmas decorations. They don't want you to bring anything made of salt dough, pine cones or wicker. If you declare that you have Xmas decorations they will want to inspect them.

Wendy

Raeven · Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 1:01 am Post subject:

Hi, martwend,

But assuming your salt dough, pine cone or wicker decorations are clean and obviously not infested with anything, they'll let them in, correct?

I never realized how many decorative items I have in my household with wicker, feathers and bits of natural items, such as wheat or straw, attached to them. I'll get rid of lots of them, but some are sentimental favorites and I'd like to bring them if I can. Lots of those are Christmas decorations.

What was your experience, if you don't mind sharing?

Thanks as always, Rae

martwend · Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 1:36 pm Post subject:

Hi Rae,

As you say, it seems to us that as long as your stuff seems clean and uninfested, MAF are ok. The worst that seems to happen is that they scrub your stuff or fumigate it. They scrubbed our kids rugby boots but did it in our sink which then flowed into the water system so presumably any nasty Scottish rugby boot germs are now in the NZ water system!

The MAF man....a very nice older gentleman....glanced at the various Xmas and wicker items which I had set aside for him and left within 20 minutes without charging.

The only nuisance of brining iffy items is that it might take longer to get your stuff delivered if there isn't a MAF rep available. You may also be restricted in the boxes you are allowed to open before they are inspected. In general it didn't seem like a big issue but we restricted what we brought to the minimum.

Wendy

Raeven · Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 2:18 pm Post subject:

Hi, Wendy,

Thanks so very much for the information. I've been fretting over such things as goosedown pillows and those pesky Christmas decorations, as well as some sentimental hats with feathers and wicker wall hangings that were wedding presents and would be hard to part with! We'll make sure everything is spotless and sanitary and hope for the best.

I really appreciate you taking your time to reply and put my mind at ease!

All the best, Rae

martwend · Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 6:20 pm Post subject:

You're welcome Rae. Good luck in your move!
Wendy Razz

justin.g.s · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2004 5:27 pm Post subject:

I would love to claify exacltly what you mean by salt dough. I have alot of chlritsmas tree ornaments, cheap, but sentamental.

I have no idea what most are made of, as most have been purchased from around the world.

Please, if you will; descibe what the MAF is looking to keep from entry.
Thank You Mrs Syphers

Raeven · Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 12:30 am Post subject:

Hi, Mrs. Syphers,

Salt dough is that mixture of flour, water and salt (I don't know what else is in it) that kids make Christmas decorations out of when they're in primary school. It's mixed to a dough consistency and usually colored with food coloring and baked after shaping to harden.

Doesn't sound like ornaments made from this are a problem. The more I learn, the less I'm worried about bringing our stuff. My best research indicates that MAF is most concerned about dirt, seeds and insects, and if you can show you've eliminated these things, you'll be ok. A lot of people lose Christmas decorations because they have pine cones on them, and pine cones have seeds. So MAF tends to toss them because the seeds can't be eliminated.

How you are treated also seems greatly dependent on which MAF officer you draw. Some are a lot harsher than others, from what I gather.

I plan to take lots of things that are on the We'd-Rather-You-Didn't list: Christmas decorations, wicker baskets, hats with feathers, dried flower arrangements, large herb and spice collection. I will make sure they are pristine, declare everything and see what happens. I figure worst case scenario, I will have transported the items only to have them thrown away at the other end. Fair enough.

Good luck to you in your move! - Rae

martwend · Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 8:12 pm Post subject:

Hi!

Re my last post....MAF sent the bill for the inspection in the post and it was about $120. Not bad for 15 minutes work!

Wendy

justin.g.s · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 6:33 pm Post subject:

Thank you for answering! I will do the same. Good luck and merry Holidays! M.S.

karltsmith · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 7:24 pm Post subject:

We brought over our Xmas decorations and MAF didn't ask any qustions whatsoever....infact they even cleared our shipment prior to its arrival........the nice man from MAF phoned me to interview me about our manifest brfore it landed and decided to pass it without inspection! Not a common occurance I'm sure but you might be lucky!

Karl

PS We did not bring over any pine cones but we did have a lot of painted wooden items collected form our worldly travels.

Raeven · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 1:20 am Post subject:

Hi, karl,

That's very encouraging to hear! Thanks for sharing! I doubt we'll dodge any bullets, however... we have all the stuff MAF hates: Camping equipment, hiking shoes, aforementioned feathers, wicker, etc.

My latest concern is our flokati rug. I plan to have it professionally cleaned, then vacuum-packed in waterproof plastic. Hopefully this dedication to cleanliness and otherwise-respectable living will impress MAF into letting me bring in those old Mae West hats with the skanky ostrich feathers on them!

A girl can dream. - Rae

martwend · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 3:01 pm Post subject:

Hi!

I brought a flokati rug which I washed in the bath before it was packed and had no trouble with MAF.

Wendy

Raeven · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 2:40 pm Post subject:

Hi, Wendy,

Thanks for putting my mind at rest on this particular issue! Today I finally sent off a detailed inquiry to MAF about everything I had concerns about. I'll post the substance of their reply when I get it for whatever value it may have for others who are interested.

Thanks again! - Rae