Note: The information contained on this webpage and in our Prohibited items brochure (.pdf - 502kb) is also contained in our Postal users' guide, available on this website as part of Our Terms and Postal Legislation and available for reference at all PostShops and selected New Zealand Post retail outlets excluding stamp resellers.

Why are some items prohibited?
Dangerous goods
Send with care
Other prohibited items
International services
Country specific restrictions
Quick reference guide to common prohibited items
Standard Terms for our products and services
Further information

Why are some items prohibited?

It is very important that you don’t send prohibited items in the post or by courier.

Items are prohibited because they pose a risk to the safety of our employees, customers and other people and equipment associated with the postal and courier systems.

New Zealand Post will not accept any liability or make compensation payments for prohibited items (or any postal or courier item that contains a prohibited item) that are:

• damaged; 
• lost; 
• confiscated/disposed of; or 
• delayed in delivery.

If you send a prohibited item you will be liable for any damage or costs caused by that item.  See the public contract on this website and on display at your local New Zealand Post retail outlet for your responsibilities as a sender.

Because prohibited items can be dangerous, postal and courier items suspected of containing prohibited items may be opened by New Zealand Post or other authorised parties.  If any prohibited item is found in a postal or courier item it will not be delivered and we will not refund postage costs. New Zealand Post is not obliged to return the item to you, but may, at our discretion (and at your cost):

• make the item safe; 
• return the item to you by a licensed dangerous goods carrier or security firm;
• destroy the item; 
• dispose of the item;
• deliver the item to the appropriate authorities.

There are also penalties for sending prohibited items under the Postal Services Act 1998 (Ministry of Economic Development Website), the Civil Aviation Act 1990 and other legislation.

Back to Top

Dangerous goods

All items, irrespective of packaging, listed in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations are not to be sent by post or courier.

The goods and substances listed below are, in any shape or form, all prohibited items. There are also many other less common prohibited items. If you are unsure, our Customer Service Centre on 0800 501 501 is always happy to help but, due to the complex nature of some products, it remains your responsibility to ensure your item is safe to send. Acceptance of your item by New Zealand Post does not free you of this responsibility.

While prohibited items may appear harmless, under certain circumstances they can easily become dangerous. Air pressure and temperature changes, for example, could cause a prohibited item to leak, ignite or explode.

Personal electronic devices (eg MP3 players, laptops) could accidentally be activated during transit and could interfere with aircraft navigation, which is why batteries need to be removed.

Never assume that your item is not going to be transported by air at some stage. Except in rare circumstances, all international items travel by air for part of their journey. Domestic items may also travel by air.

Items with an IATA Dangerous Goods classification include:

• Explosives (eg ammunition, fireworks, igniters, flares, toy caps). 
• Gases (eg aerosol cans, cigarette lighters, camping gas cylinders - full or empty, fire extinguishers). 
• Flammable liquids and flammable solids (eg paint, alcohol (see (1) below), perfume, matches, petrol, kerosene, turpentine, solvents, cleaning fluids, nitrate products). 
• Oxidising substances and organic peroxides (eg hair dye, disinfectants, fibreglass repair kits). 
• Toxic (poisonous) and infectious substances. 
• Radioactive materials. 
• Corrosives (eg mercury - including thermometers, bleach, nail polish and remover, nitric acids, battery fluids). 
• Other goods that are highly magnetic, polymerizable or otherwise unsuitable for carriage (eg asbestos, dry ice, first aid kits, wet-cell batteries).

(1) Alcohol less than 70% by volume and in quantities less than 5 litres may be sent but, if sending overseas, country specific restrictions may apply.

Back to Top

Send with care

These items and substances may be sent only if packaged correctly. Please contact our Customer Service Centre on 0800 501 501 for further details.

• Electronic/electric appliances and devices (batteries must be removed and wrapped separately). 
• Personal electronic devices without removable batteries (eg MP3 players) can be mailed only if they do not have a transmit function or moving parts.
• Liquids not otherwise classed as dangerous, must be packaged in a way to ensure no leakage or breakage of the container. 
• Radioactive substances in quantities exempted from the Radiation Protection Act 1965 and below the limits specified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (eg domestic smoke alarms).

The following items must only be sent if they are packaged correctly and sent by signature required courier:

• Poisons not classified as class 6.1 Dangerous Goods in the IATA Regulations. 
• Narcotic drugs (where allowable and if sent by an authorised organisation). 
• Perishable biological specimens and substances not classified as class 6.2 Dangerous Goods in the IATA Regulations.  These items must be sent to a recognised laboratory, medical institution, medical practitioner or vet. These items must be packaged in accordance with "The Guideline for Packaging and Shipping of Infectious Substances" by the New Zealand Communicable Diseases Centre.

Back to Top

Other prohibited items

These items, while not necessarily dangerous, are prohibited:

• Cash, currency, bullion or vouchers.
• Live animals except for correctly packaged bees, leeches, silkworms and harmless insects. 
• All drugs unless in prescription quantities and packaged correctly (additional restrictions apply for international services). 
• Illegal narcotic substances. 
• Firearms (including parts) and ammunition.
• Human remains (including ashes). 
• Any item or consignment valued in excess of NZ$50,000.
• Any noxious substance or thing or any dead animal. 
• Any unsolicited indecent item or representation of any kind. 
• Any item containing anything that is capable, as packed, of causing injury to any person or damage to property. 
• Any inadequately packaged item.

International services

The New Zealand Government prohibits the export of various types of items. You need to ensure that your item is not prohibited from export and that you meet any export restrictions on the items you are planning to send. For further information contact the New Zealand Customs Service or the appropriate government authority.

Items subject to restrictions / prohibitions include:

• prescription medication; and 
• antiquities.

Country specific restrictions

Additional restrictions may be placed on items by the country of destination. For more information on this please view our country specific restrictions (.pdf - 275kb). Your local PostShop or our Customer Service Centre may be able to help you identify the additional restrictions for some countries.  However, it is your responsibility to ensure that your item is not prohibited or restricted and you should check with the customs and/or quarantine authority of the country concerned.  Many of these organisations have informative websites.

Back to Top

Back to Top

Standard terms for our products and services

The standard terms relating to the products and services offered by New Zealand Post Limited, including information on the extent of our liability, are set out in the Public Contract and the Postal Users' Guide.

For important information view our:

• Public contract  
• Postal users' guide  
• Standard terms and conditions for business customers
  (.pdf - 183kb) 
• Compensation and high risk items 

Further information

The information on this webpage is also available to download in our Prohibited items brochure (.pdf - 502kb).

If you have any further questions relating to the information on this webpage or in the brochure, please:

• Visit your nearest PostShop or New Zealand Post retail outlet excluding stamp resellers; or
• Contact us by telephone (call toll-free 0800 501 501 within New Zealand), by email or in writing.

Back to Top