NZ Customs Release

Thursday, April 2, 2026

 

 

 

 

CUSTOMS RELEASE
KEEPING YOU INFORMED

 

Issue

826

2 April 2026


Changes to Part II Concessions for Heirlooms, Inherited Goods, and Gifts

From 1 April 2026, inherited goods now enter New Zealand duty-free under the newly created Concession Reference 71. Imported heirlooms will still be entered duty-free under concession 70. Both inherited goods and heirlooms will only be eligible for duty-free entry as a result of a familial bereavement or a terminal diagnosis. 
 
From 1 April 2026, people receiving gifts sent from overseas to New Zealand will only receive duty-free entry if the gift is worth $1,000 or less under the $1,000 de minimis threshold. Gifts worth more than the $1,000 de minimis threshold will be charged any applicable duty and GST.

 

 

 

 

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Man jailed following Customs investigation into forged and falsified documents

A 41-year-old Auckland man was sentenced on Monday 30 March in the Waitakere District Court to two years and four months' imprisonment following a Customs investigation into forged and falsified shipping documents.

He was convicted for two charges under the Customs and Excise Act 2018 and 15 charges under the Crimes Act 1961.

 

 

 

 

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New Goods Management Levies now in place

A new levy structure for Biosecurity and Customs goods management levies has now taken effect. The changes more fairly recover costs for border processing services from those whose activities create the need for such services.

To help your business prepare, you can download industry information packs from Customs' website at Goods Fees – 2026 changes

You can download Customs' quick reference guide for all goods levies that now apply at: Quick reference guide - goods management levies from 1 April 2026.

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.

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

 

 

 

 

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Trade and economic response to Iran conflict

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has issued guidance on New Zealand's response to the conflict as well as advice for people in the region.
 

 

 

 

 

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MFAT Market Intelligence Reports

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

 

 

 

 

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Intellectual Property Rights

Updates to trademark and copyright notices have been accepted by Customs.

For more information on IPRs, email IPRnotices@customs.govt.nz.

 

 

 

 

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Tariff Concession Notices

A tariff concession removes the tariff duty that would be payable for certain goods.  The latest Tariff Concession Notices are now available.
 

 

 

 

 

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