Sending Goods out of New Zealand when Companies don’t Ship to your Country

These days, many people make online purchases ranging from personal items like clothing, books, and electronics to artwork and furniture. It’s common to explore overseas websites beyond your backyard because you might find unexpected bargains or must-have items you didn’t know you needed.

However, the biggest problem online shoppers face today is shipping. While larger businesses sometimes ship globally, most small retailers only ship nationally or to one or two other countries. For example, sending goods out of New Zealand can prove challenging for people wanting to purchase from smaller boutique companies.

But that shouldn’t hold you back! Even when the seller can’t directly ship the product to you, other ways exist to get your goods out of NZ.

 

Third-party freight forwarding

Third-party forwarding involves freight companies who are willing to collect the goods for you and forward them. Usually, you need to sign up for the service, and you will receive a warehouse address. The company will then receive your goods and arrange for delivery to you.

Before you go down this route, ensure you know the costs (as you will need to pay import tax on top of shipping and handling costs). Check for reviews online and do your research before making a decision. What’s the prospective timeframe for delivery? How reliable are they? How does the company deal with complaints?

Well-known international examples of third-party forwarding companies often used for personal items include Global Shopaholics and ShipItTo, which both ship from the US to countries worldwide. Kiwis who want to buy from the US or the UK can also use NZ Post’s YouShop service.

If you’re in the opposite situation and based overseas, but the item you want to buy is only sold in New Zealand, a few options are available. Specialist New Zealand parcel forwarding companies include ParcelMate (which operates between New Zealand and China) and JetKrate (which ships items from New Zealand and the UK to various countries). There are also logistics companies operating in New Zealand which handle large commercial shipments.

 

Virtual mailbox services

Virtual mailbox providers like Private Box can also receive and forward parcels for you. A virtual mailbox is a physical mailing address in a city in New Zealand that is linked to an online account. The mailbox provider receives your mail, and you can have it scanned. Then, you can read it online wherever you are in the world. You can also have your post physically sent to you.

Regarding packages, the first step is to check to see if you can receive parcels at your virtual address. If the answer is yes, just list that address as your address for delivery and let your mailbox provider know you want your parcel forwarded via NZ Post or via a courier company.

There are usually some extra handling costs associated with sending parcels overseas, in addition to a shipping fee set by the carrier (which varies depending on the dimensions and weight of your parcel). There are also limits regarding size: if your parcel is too big, a freight forwarding service might be your only option. As with freight forwarding, you will also have to pay import tax.

If you routinely receive correspondence in New Zealand and also expect to regularly receive and forward packages, a virtual mailbox might be the way to go rather than arranging third-party freighting every time.

A virtual mailbox can also be invaluable if freight forwarding isn’t available in your country. For instance, Private Box ships to more than 230 destinations worldwide. Our virtual mailboxes are located in five cities, and packages can be received at Auckland and Wellington addresses. Parcels can also be stored for a small monthly fee.

If you’re a business, you can manage things like a registered office address, New Zealand phone number, trading name, and mail and parcel forwarding via a virtual office. A virtual office is like a mailbox, but it includes extra features to ensure your business runs smoothly. You can even register your work vehicle at your virtual office address.

 

Is there anything I can’t send out of New Zealand?

Before you can export your purchases, they will have to clear New Zealand Customs, and certain goods can’t be shipped out. Usually, foodstuffs like honey or dairy products cannot be sent outside the country without a special export license.

The NZ Post also prohibits a range of items because they are “dangerous goods.” This includes weapons and flammable substances such as paint, perfume, turpentine, and nail polish. We have a complete list of prohibited goods, or you can check the NZ Post website.

Although you can’t use the national postal service for these products, certain courier services (such as TNT) may be willing to send flammable items like perfume—provided the goods are packaged in accordance with their requirements. Firearms exports, ammunition, and anything that falls under the umbrella of “controlled chemicals” need to go through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

If you’re interested in using Private Box or any other virtual mailbox or freight forwarding company, make sure you take a look at their website first and become familiar with what they can and cannot send.

In addition to dangerous goods, you can’t send anything protected in New Zealand. This can include uncut greenstone (more than 5kg), historically significant documents, works of art with cultural importance, milk powder products, and native plants, and there are limits on the amount of honey you can ship. For more information, look at NZ Customs’ prohibited and restricted goods.

You can transport pets out of New Zealand. However, there are special rules around this, and the requirements vary depending on where you’re sending your pet. For more information, look at the Ministry for Primary Industries website. The process is more complicated if you’re interested in exporting livestock (including sheep, cattle, birds, and bees).

Before making your purchase, you should also consult the Government import-export website for your country to check which goods are prohibited or restricted. You likely won’t be able to import anything banned in your country, and there might be special rules that you need to consider before importing something restricted.

 

Can I arrange to send goods out of New Zealand privately?

If the goods you’re ordering are for personal use and you have a trusted friend or family member willing to receive your parcels and forward them on, you could always go the private route.

Just list your contact information as your delivery address, and wait for them to send the goods to you. All the Customs forms they need should be available via NZ Post. This might be a good option if you need to buy a once-off, and it’s not subject to any special restrictions.

The advantage of picking either a third-party forwarding company or a virtual mailbox provider is that those businesses are expressly set up for this purpose, and you can usually expect a more time-efficient, professional, and reliable service.

If you are exporting goods for commercial purposes, it is highly recommended that you entrust your goods to professionals. For more information on the requirements for commercial export, see this NZ Customs information page.

 

Get started

Don’t let distance stop you from making your dream purchase. Whether the products you’re interested in are personal or for commercial use, there are many online resources about sending goods out of New Zealand.

If you want more information about virtual mailboxes and virtual offices in New Zealand, visit our website and check out our frequently asked questions.

Happy bargain hunting!