NZ Customs Release

NZ Post's Auckland Processing Centre (APC) – the new international gateway for parcels and mail entering and leaving New Zealand – is now fully operational with Customs and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on site.

NZ Post Chief Executive David Walsh said that the APC being fully operational was a milestone moment, marking a new era of innovation, efficiency and sustainability as e-commerce continues to grow.

"The APC is a critical piece of infrastructure that will benefit New Zealand as e-commerce continues to grow here and internationally, as well as supporting New Zealand export businesses that are trading internationally."

Customs, Canterbury Police, and Police's National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) have made a significant dent in the supply of drugs into Christchurch, with the seizure of more than 25 kilograms of cocaine.

On 29 March, Police and Customs received information about a significant importation of cocaine that had come through Lyttelton Port. More than 25 kilograms of the Class A Controlled Drug was seized, with a street value in excess of NZ$9 million.

The investigation has been ongoing over the past six weeks and has led to the arrest of four men, aged 30-36, from Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga and Auckland.

Learn about the US 10% tariff on New Zealand goods, and find resources and events to help you understand what this might mean for your business.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) is seeking feedback on a new initiative to resolve non-tariff barriers (NTBs) via a legally non-binding arrangement with a number of other countries.
 
MFAT is seeking feedback on what New Zealanders would like to see in this arrangement and the times of non-tariff barriers they are most concerned about.
 
The closing date for submissions is 1 July 2025.
 
For more information, please visit MFAT's website.

On 2 April (US time) US President Trump signed an Executive Order on reciprocal tariffs that means that New Zealand goods exports to the US are subject to an additional 10% tariff over current tariff rates from 5 April, 5:01 pm NZT.

There were some exceptions to this:

- Products covered by earlier US tariff increases, such as steel products and their derivatives and aluminium products and their derivatives as well as automobiles and key automobile parts. 

- Products, including lumber, copper, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals, certain critical minerals, and energy and energy products, listed in Annex II of the above Executive Order, which may be subject to sector-specific tariffs in future. 

Changes to the US tariffs policy have been made since President Trump's 2 April announcement, and further developments cannot be ruled out.

Customs will continue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with other New Zealand government agencies.  

If you have any Customs-specific matters in relation to the US tariff changes that you would like to bring to our attention, please email USTariffDesk@customs.govt.nz.

The rate of compensatory interest payable under sections 154 and 161 of the Customs and Excise Act 2018 will change with effect on and after 8 May 2025. 
 
The interest rate will change from 10.88% to 9.89%. 

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