RoRo Shipping of Vehicles to New Zealand

Concessionary entry for motor vehicles is available to persons who have arrived in New Zealand and on the date the motor vehicle is imported, hold a document authorising their residence in New Zealand after living overseas for 21 months or more.

In order to qualify for concessionary entry, the following conditions must be met in:

• You have arrived in New Zealand and on the date the motor vehicle is imported you hold a document authorising permanent residence in New Zealand; and
• For the whole of the period of 21 months preceding your arrival, you have resided outside or have been domiciled outside New Zealand. Brief holidays or exploratory visits do not exclude a person from qualifying for this concession; and
• You have personally owned and used the vehicle for at least one year before the date of your departure for New Zealand, or the date on which the vehicle is surrendered for shipping, whichever is earlier; and
• The vehicle is being imported for your own personal use and not for sale, gift, or disposal in any other way; and
• You give a concession reference 80 undertaking. 

These conditions are strictly applied by New Zealand Customs Service and they have no discretion to alter them to suit individuals circumstances.

If this criteria cannot be met, the vehicle will be considered a non-concessionary import, and Customs charges are payable.

A document authorising residence in New Zealand means any of the following:

• A current New Zealand Passport
• A current Australian Passport
• A current New Zealand Residence visa or permit or a current New Zealand returning resident’s visa or permit
• A current permanent residence visa (including a resident return visa) issued by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia
• A current New Zealand work visa or work permit that was issued for a minimum of twelve months
• A current New Zealand work visa or work permit issued under the Work to Residency (Skilled Migrant Category) policy or the Long Term Business Visa/Permit category
• A current New Zealand visitor’s visa or permit that was issued for a minimum of three years

Concession reference 80 undertaking means:

A written undertaking, in the form required by a Customs officer, that if the relevant goods are sold or otherwise disposed of within 2 years from the date of importation, the person signing the undertaking will immediately pay to Customs;

• The Customs charges that would have applied if duty and GST were charged on the goods, at the time of their importation under Part I of the Tariff; or any lesser sum that may be required.