New Zealand Customs Release Issue 821

Issue

821

27 February 2026

New Biosecurity and Customs Goods Management Levies

Further regulations have been made to give effect to the Biosecurity and Customs goods management levies announced in March 2025.

The new levy structure will take effect on 1 April 2026. It makes the way the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Customs recover costs fairer for levy payers and for taxpayers.

You can read the regulations:
- Customs and Excise (Goods Management Levies) Order 2025
- Customs and Excise (Postal Articles) Amendment Regulations 2025
- Biosecurity (Import Levies and Commercial Vessel Levy) Order 2026 
- Customs and Excise (Goods Management Levies) Amendment Order 2026.
  
To help your business prepare, you can download our industry information packs from our website at Goods Fees – 2026 changes. 

For more information, email trade.programme@customs.govt.nz.

DTR Sea project mailbox to close

This notice is to advise that the DTR (Domestic Transhipment Request) Sea Project mailbox (DTR@mpi.govt.nz) will be permanently closed on 13 March 2026. DTRs have been mandated for the sea pathway across various groups throughout 2023/2024, and all submitters, ports, and shipping lines are now fully onboarded and DTR compliant.

From 13 March 2026, any emails sent to this mailbox will receive an automated response directing users to contact TSW User Support at Tswusersupport@customs.govt.nz as part of transitioning to a business-as-usual support model. 

Please refer to the DTR Sea Information page on the Customs website which includes helpful guidance.
 
Thank you for your support and collaboration throughout the DTR Sea Project. 

Requirements on importing/exporting with Iran

Importers, exporters and their agents should familiarise themselves with the new registration requirements regarding any trade with people and businesses in Iran. The registration provides a unique permit number to the importer/exporter, which must be used on import and export entries.

From 1 February 2026, New Zealand persons and entities intending to do business with Iran are required to first register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). The compulsory registration scheme is designed to ensure that legitimate trade with Iran can continue, and that those engaging in such trade exercise the necessary degree of vigilance.

You can submit your application at any time. No fees apply to registration.

More information and the registration form are available on MFAT's website.

MFAT Market Intelligence Reports

The latest edition of the weekly global trade and economic update for New Zealand businesses has been published.