Some interesting things we learn about NZ Biosecurity in the two months before travelling to and arriving in New Zealand.

>> When you are insecure – just show it to customs – in the worst case it will end up in the garbage bag and in the best case you can keep it

do not bring (or declare and dispose):

• fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy products
• meat fresh, frozen or preserved
• seeds, nuts and honey
• dried beans, chick peas and lentils (unless they are parted and cannot germinate any more)

ok to bring:

• fresh or frozen fish from the sea
• meat – if originally packed and from NZ
• dairy products – if originally packed and from NZ as well as milk powder
• meat in cans (unless it contains bones)
• paté (if it doesn’t need to be refrigerated)
• dried fruits (when they are obviously dry)
• vegetable pickles self preserved in glasses (I could keep my green beans preserved in vinager and the chillis in liquid in glasses)
• seeds and nuts when they are baked in bread already (then they cannot germinate any more)
• bananas when they are baked in a cake (I had a fresh banana cake just standing on the stove at arrival…)

other items to consider:

• our shell necklaces from French Polynesia and the Caribbean lambi shell were not of any interest
• our pepper sprays we had to give away
• don’t forget to clean your running, hiking shoes, bicycles, tents in order to not to bring any earth or sand

Therefore start eating your lentils and chick peas early enough!