Prohibited and Restricted
From time to time we get customers who try to use Private Box to ship items overseas, only to find that the items are Prohibited or Restricted. This either stops them from getting their item, or makes forwarding the item more expensive than they expected.
Here are some common examples:
| Item | Prohibited/Restricted |
|---|---|
| Mobile Phones | Restricted Item. International Shipping must be via International Expresss Courier (DHL). |
| Electronics with Lithium Ion batteries | Restricted Item. International Shipping must be via International Expresss Courier (DHL). |
| Honey | Prohibited item. Requires special export license. |
| Cheese & Dairy Products | Prohibited item. Requires special export license. |
| Perfume | Prohibited item. Flammable. |
| Plants | Prohibited item. |
Prohibited items cannot be sent via Private Box as they may risk damaging or contaminating other postal items. This also includes items that may inhibit the safety of our staff or the general public.
Due to many prohibited items being dangerous, any item suspected of containing prohibited items may be opened by New Zealand Customs or any other authorized parties. Private Box customers who attempt to send prohibited items will be in breach of our terms & conditions.
Private Box does not take liability for any prohibited items. Any damage caused by a prohibited item or disposal fees will be at customer’s expense.
Prohibited Items vs Restricted Items
Prohibited items
- Cannot be sent via the postal service under any circumstances.
- If sent these items will be seized by customs and may be destroyed.
Restricted items
- Can be sent via the postal service, but must comply to very strict guidelines.
Prohibited and Restricted items lists
A comprehensive list of Prohibited and Restricted items can be found directly on the NZ Post Website.
Other Sources of information:
- List of commonly prohibited items (listed below)
- Items with IATA Dangerous Goods classification (listed below)
- IATA Dangerous Goods Web site
- Private Box support article: Prohibited and Restricted items
- New Zealand Customs Web site – for New Zealand Government restrictions
- NZ Post International Delivery Updates – for mail network disruptions & sanctions information
List of Prohibited Items
Below are items that Private Box cannot send.
| Acid | Gas Cylinders (e.g. camping gas) |
|---|---|
| Adhesive Products (containing flammable liquid) | Generators (fuel powered) |
| Aerosol Cans (e.g. hairspray) | Glue (e.g. flammable, quick drying) |
| Air Bag (car) | Grenades |
| Alarm Devices (gas or battery powered) | Hair Colouring / Bleaches |
| Alcohol (more than 5 litres) | Hairspray (aerosol) |
| Alcohol (more than 70% by volume) | Human Remains (including ashes) |
| Alkaline | Igniters |
| Aluminium Powder | Indecent Goods |
| Ammonial Products | Insecticides |
| Ammunition | Kerosene |
| Ammonial Powder | Laundry Detergents |
| Animals (except for bees, leeches, silkworms and harmless insects) | Lighter Fluid |
| Anti Freeze | Liquid Nitrogen |
| Appliances (containing batteries) | Lithium Batteries |
| Asbestos | Magnetic Material |
| Barometers | Magnets |
| Batteries (contained in any appliance) | Matches |
| Batteries (e.g. car or wet) | Mercury |
| Batteries (made from lithium cell) | Mobile Phones (unless specific conditions are met) |
| Battery Fluid | Motor Fuels |
| Blasting Caps | Nail Polish |
| Bleach | Nail Polish Remover |
| Brake Fluid | Narcotics |
| Bullets | Oven Cleaners (which include caustic soda) |
| Bullion | Oxygen Cylinders |
| Butane | Paint (oil based) |
| Camphor | Party Poppers |
| Caps For Starting Guns | Perfume |
| Caps For Toy Guns | Perfumery Products |
| Carbon Paper | Peroxides |
| Cash or Currency | Petrol |
| Caustic Soda | Phosphorus |
| Charcoal | Plastic Solvent |
| Chemicals | Poisons (e.g. cyanide, lead, arsenic) |
| Chlorates | Polish |
| Chlorine | Polyester Resin Kits |
| Christmas Crackers | Propane |
| Cigarette Lighters | Shock Absorbers (gas or compressed air) |
| Cleaning Materials (liquid or powder) | Signals, Distress |
| Deodorant (aerosols) | Signals, Smoke |
| Disinfectants | Sodium |
| Drugs (unless in prescription quantities) | Solvents |
| Dry Ice | Sparklers |
| Dyes | Sulphuric Acid |
| Electronic Items (containing batteries) | Swimming Pool Chemicals |
| Essential Oils (e.g. eucalyptus, tea tree) | Tea Tree Oil |
| Fertilisers | Textile Dyes |
| Fibreglass Repair Kits | Theatrical Flares |
| Fire Extinguishes | Thermometers (mercury) |
| Fire Lighters | Toner (photocopier) |
| Firearms | Toy Caps |
| Fireworks (e.g. skyrockets, sparklers, crackers) | Toys (containing batteries) |
| Flares | Turpentine |
| Flint Lighters | Varnish (e.g. remover, thinner) |
| Furs and Skins (Animal) | Weed Killers |
| Gas (e.g. propane, butane, hydrogen, helium) | Zinc Powder |
Items with an IATA Dangerous Goods classification
| Explosive materials (eg ammunition, fireworks, igniters, flares, toy caps). | Toxic and infectious substances. |
| Gases (compressed fuel or air cylinders). | Radioactive materials. |
| Flammable Substances (anything with a fire warning, eg petrol, turpentine, spirits etc.). | Corrosives (eg mercury, bleach, nail polish, nitric acids, battery fluids). |
| Oxidising substances (eg hair dye, disinfectants, fiberglass repair kits). | Other hazardous goods (eg magnetic, polymerizable, asbestos, dry ice, fist aid kits, batteries). |
If you have any questions or are still unsure if it is possible to send your item, please contact us today!
