Countries · NZ
New Zealand: sanctions and trade risk
As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 5 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to New Zealand.Lists last checked .
Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓
No elevated country indicator for New Zealand in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in New Zealand may still be on a list.
On the sanctions lists
5 entries on the official lists name New Zealand — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.
| List | Entries | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| UK Sanctions List (FCDO) | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Latest changes
No new listings or removals naming New Zealand recorded yet.
Related
Logistics profile
New Zealand: logistics and trade
Agricultural export nation / Pacific island state
New Zealand (NZ) is an island nation in the south-west Pacific, approximately 2,000 km south-east of Australia, and serves as an agricultural export nation highly dependent on sea freight. The country is a member of CER (with Australia), CPTPP and RCEP; the NZ-EU free trade agreement entered into force on 1 May 2024. Customs declarations are filed electronically through the Trade Single Window in the Joint Border Management System (JBMS) under the Customs and Excise Act 2018; GST is 15 percent on the CIF value plus duties, levied on consignments above NZD 1,000. From April 2026 a Low-Value Goods Levy of NZD 2.21 per consignment applies to shipments below NZD 1,000. Key sea gateways are Tauranga (largest container port, over 1.2 million TEU), Auckland, Lyttelton and Napier; air cargo flows primarily through Auckland (AKL). The State Highway 1 network and North Island Main Trunk rail line connect the main economic centres. Dairy products, meat, timber, fruit and wine dominate exports; main partners are China, Australia, the USA, the EU and Japan.
- Capital
- Wellington
- Population
- 5,356,700
- Area
- 268,838 km²
- Currency
- New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
- Continent
- Oceania
- Region
- Pacific / Oceania
- Economic area
- CER (Australia–New Zealand) / CPTPP
- Religions
- Christianity, Atheists, Hinduism
- Access to the sea
- Yes
Transport modes Sea · Air · Road · Rail
- Current situation
- From 1. April 2026, a new Low-Value Goods Levy of NZD 2,21 per consignment (plus GST) applies to consignments up to NZD 1000. NZ-EU FTA in force since 1. May 2024. Port of Tauranga is the primary liner call. No nationwide disruption verified. (Status as of 2026-07-29)
- Seasonal conditions
- Cyclones and storms mainly from December to April on the North Island; earthquake risk (e.g. Wellington, Christchurch); southern winter with alpine conditions on the South Island.
Main seaports
- Tauranga
Tauranga (NZ TRG): NZ's largest container port, 1.21M TEU in FY26, record NPAT NZD 155.3 M; Stella Passage expansion fast-track approved.
- Auckland
Auckland (NZ AKL): New Zealand's main import gateway, ~900,000 TEU (2024), among the Southern Hemisphere's largest reefer terminals. Tauranga leads on exports.
- Port Lyttelton
Lyttelton (NZ LYT), South Island's largest container port: ~432,000 TEU in 2025, NZ's biggest coal export terminal, NZ$821m Te Awaparahi Bay expansion by 2031.
- Napier
Napier (NZ NPE) is New Zealand's Hawke's Bay export port: reefer apples, wine and ~2.7m tonnes of logs. Container feeder links; alternatives Tauranga and Auckland.
- Wellington
Wellington (NZ WLG): New Zealand capital's port and Cook Strait ferry pivot; containers (~100,000 TEU), logs, bulk, petroleum. Alternatives: Tauranga, Lyttelton.
- Bluff Harbor
Bluff Harbour (NZ BLU), New Zealand's southernmost commercial port: aluminium, logs, fertiliser, 3.21M t FY24. Containers also via Port Chalmers.
Main cargo airports
- Auckland International AirportAKL
Auckland Airport (AKL): 168,000 t of air cargo yearly, 89% of NZ's international freight. New Menzies airside terminal since April 2026, 18 airline partners.
- Christchurch International AirportCHC
Christchurch (CHC): South Island's freight hub, eight daily freighters, a 30,000 sqm apron expansion, growing Qantas service and the Deep Freeze Antarctic base.
- Wellington International AirportWLG
Wellington WLG/NZWN: a 2,081 m runway limits air freight to about 1,500 t of belly cargo. Overseas imports route via Auckland AKL plus road feeder.
Road corridors
- State Highway 1 (north-south axis)
- Auckland–Tauranga
- Waikato Expressway (Auckland–Hamilton)
Rail corridors
- North Island Main Trunk (Auckland–Wellington)
- East Coast Main Trunk (Hamilton–Tauranga)
- Main South Line (Picton–Christchurch–Dunedin)
Inland ports
- MetroPort Auckland
- Ruakura Inland Port (Hamilton)
Main trade lanes
- NZ–China
- NZ–Australia
- NZ–USA
- NZ–EU
- NZ–Japan
Customs and import
Customs authority New Zealand Customs Service (Te Mana Arai o Aotearoa)Official website ↗
- Import customs system
- Electronic customs declaration via the Trade Single Window (TSW) / Joint Border Management System (JBMS) as WCO message; Import Entry for consignment value above NZD 1000; legal basis Customs and Excise Act 2018.
- Export customs system
- Export Entry electronically via TSW/JBMS (WCO message) before loading; legal basis Customs and Excise Act 2018.
- Import VAT
- GST of 15 percent on customs value plus freight, insurance and duty; collected only for consignments above NZD 1000 (excluding alcohol and tobacco). New from 1. April 2026: Low-Value Goods Levy of NZD 2,21 per consignment plus GST for all imports up to NZD 1000.
- Proofs of origin and trade agreements
- Self-certification of origin (Declaration of Origin) under CPTPP, NZ-EU, RCEP, NZ-UK and Korea; Certificate of Origin (e.g. NZ-China, AANZFTA) via authorised bodies such as the Auckland Business Chamber.
- Restricted and prohibited goods
- Strict MPI biosecurity for food, plants, animals, wood and soil; import bans or permits for weapons, drugs and protected species (CITES); quarantine inspections at the border.
Typical import documents
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
- Import Entry (TSW)
- Proof of origin under FTA
- MPI biosecurity documents
Typical export documents
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Export Entry (TSW)
- Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
- Declaration of origin (self-certification)
- Phytosanitary or veterinary certificate (MPI)
Logistics conditions
- Customs complexity
- Medium
- Customs delays
- Low to medium
- Port congestion
- Medium
- Dangerous goods relevance
- Medium
- Pharma and cold chain relevance
- Medium
- E-commerce relevance
- Medium to high
Trade
Top import partners
Top export partners
Top import goods
- Machinery
- Vehicles
- Mineral oils
- Electronic devices
- Pharmaceuticals
Top export goods
- Dairy products
- Meat
- Wood products
- Fruit
- Wine
Typical cargo
- Dairy products (reefer containers)
- Meat (reefer)
- Wood and forestry products
- Fruit (kiwi, apples)
- Wine
- Machinery and consumer goods (imports)
Upcoming public holidays
- Christmas DayFri, 25 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
- Boxing DaySat, 26 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
- New Year's DayFri, 1 Jan 2027 · businesses closed
- Day after New Year's DaySat, 2 Jan 2027 · businesses closed
- Waitangi DaySat, 6 Feb 2027 · businesses closed
- Good FridayFri, 26 Mar 2027 · businesses closed
- Easter MondayMon, 29 Mar 2027 · businesses closed
- Anzac DaySun, 25 Apr 2027 · businesses closed
Latest logistics news
- Switzerland and 18 Partners Aim to Better Secure Supply Chains19 Jul 2026
Switzerland and 18 partner states aim to better coordinate trade and make supply chains for essential goods more resilient. New members include Peru, South Korea, and Thailand.
Logistics questions
What is the import tax in New Zealand?
GST is 15 percent on customs value plus freight, insurance and duty. At the border, duty and GST are only collected for consignments above NZD 1000, excluding alcohol and tobacco.
Which customs system does New Zealand use?
Electronic clearance runs through the Trade Single Window (TSW) within the Joint Border Management System. Import and export declarations are submitted as WCO messages.
Which free trade agreements does New Zealand have?
Among others, CPTPP, RCEP, the NZ-EU agreement (since 1. May 2024), NZ-UK, NZ-China, as well as agreements with Australia (CER), Korea and other partners.
What is New Zealand's largest port?
The Port of Tauranga is the largest and busiest port, handling over 1,2 million TEU annually and processing around a third of the country's total foreign trade.
Why are biosecurity controls so important?
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) strictly inspects food, plants, animals, wood and soil to protect agriculture and nature. This can lead to delays.
Which goods does New Zealand mainly export?
Dairy products, meat, wood and forestry products, fruit and wine, mostly in refrigerated containers to China, Australia, the USA, the EU and Japan.
Which currency is used in New Zealand?
The New Zealand dollar (NZD).
Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗
Powered by Freight Academy, verified 29 Jul 2026. Logistics information, not a sanctions source.