• Question: Does New Zealand have strict food rules

    Asked by packman999 to Duncan, Grant, Julie, Nik, Rachel on 13 Mar 2013.
    • Photo: Grant Campbell

      Grant Campbell answered on 13 Mar 2013:

      Yes, very! Much of New Zealand’s economy is based on export of food, and New Zealand is a very isolated country that doesn’t have certain diseases that other countries have that can affect food. New Zealand is therefore extremely strict about what foods can enter the country, in order to protext its food industry. When you fly into the New Zealand, you have to declare any foods that you have with you. If you don’t declare food (and it’s easy to forget when you’re jet lagged, even though there are lots of signs and announcements reminding you) and it’s found by the sniffer dogs, you will immediately be fined $200, which is not a nice welcome to the country, but I’m afraid New Zealand’s food industry is more important than your holiday!

    • Photo: Rachel Edwards-Stuart

      Rachel Edwards-Stuart answered on 13 Mar 2013:

      I am actually flying to New Zealand in a few weeks and apparently, like Grant said, they have REALLY strict rules. You cannot take any food with you, and they even take your shoes out of your bag and inspect them for mud!!

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