Prohibited and restricted items

Your obligations

Use our services wisely

You must use our services wisely and exercise common sense.

No prohibited or restricted items

You must not post or courier a:

1. Prohibited item, or
2. Restricted item, where you have not met our specified conditions of carriage,

unless, through an authorised New Zealand Post representative, we have specifically agreed in writing to provide this variation in service to you.

It is your responsibility

It is your responsibility to check whether an item is Prohibited or Restricted. What may appear harmless to you at first glance, may still be Prohibited or Restricted, for example, as a result of the law in New Zealand or the country of destination. Importantly, acceptance of the item by us for sending does not free you of this responsibility.

If you are unsure, please contact our National Contact Centre on 0800 501 501. They are 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. If sending dangerous goods, ensure you check the IATA website at www.iata.org for more information.

Check export rules

The New Zealand Government prohibits or restricts the export of various types of items (such as prescription medication and antiquities). You must ensure that your item is not prohibited from export or that you meet any export restrictions on the item you are planning to send. For further information, contact the New Zealand Customs Service or the appropriate government authority.

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Our rights and your liability

Items may be opened and inspected

We may open and inspect any item we suspect may be, or may contain, a Prohibited item.

Prohibited items will not be delivered

If we find a Prohibited item it will not be delivered and we will not refund postage costs. We are not obliged to return the item to you but may, at our discretion and at your cost:

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

Your liability exposure is increased

If you send a Prohibited item, or Restricted item (where you have not met our specified conditions of carriage):

1. we may hold you liable for any costs or damages incurred by us;
2. we may not cover you for any loss of, or damage to, the item;
3. you may be subject to penalties under the Postal Services Act 1998, the Civil Aviation Act 1990 and other legislation.

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What is Prohibited?

Please read carefully every time you send an item

The items listed are examples of the general category. Please check carefully every time you send an item.

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Plus:

• Illegal items: any item that is illegal or prohibited by law or any authority whether in New Zealand or the destination country; any item that is prohibited by a United Nations sanction - for further details refer to United Nations Security Council Sanctions.
• Dangerous items: any item that is capable, as packaged, of causing injury to people or damage to property
• Fragile items: regardless of how it is packaged*
• Inadequately packaged items: any item that is not sufficiently packaged to withstand a 1.2m drop
• Perishable items: any item that may spoil or decay, or has an expiry date of less than 6 months from the date of sending
• Restricted items: any item that is classified as Restricted under our terms and conditions where you have not complied with the conditions of carriage for that item
• IATA listed items: any item that is listed in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations inc. explosives, gases, flammable liquids and solids, oxidising substances and organic peroxides, toxic (poisonous) and infectious substances, radioactive materials (except in quantities exempted from the Radiation Protection Act 1965)*, corrosives, and highly magnetic and polymerisable substances

*Depending on where you want to send these items, their value, or what service you use, you may be able to send them – see the Restricted Items section.

Notes

1. Firearm parts are any piece of a firearm that is designed or intended to be an integral part of a firearm, regardless of whether it is in working condition. Firearm parts include, but are not limited to, the breech/chamber, stock/butt, magazine, silencer, barrel, bolt and trigger assembly.
2. Jewellery is any object that is typically worn for personal adornment (such as bracelets, rings, necklaces, earrings, watches, cuff links, etc) which is made of precious stones or metals
3. Additional restrictions apply for international services-for details refer to the conditions of carriage of Restricted items below.
4. Magnets are only permitted when using the Bulk Mail product, Go Flexible. Magnets cannot be sent under any other Bulk mail product or Standard Post. Please refer to the Prohibited Items section of the Postal Users’ Guide for more information.

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What is Restricted?

The terms High Risk items and Restricted items are both used currently in New Zealand Post collateral and on items such as postage included bags. For the purposes of these terms and conditions, they both have the same meaning.

Restricted items are items that can only be sent if you have complied with the conditions of carriage we specify in Table A below.

Table A: Conditions of carriage for Restricted items

You must comply with the conditions of carriage for each category that applies to your item.

• Domestic services
• International services

Domestic services - Conditions of carriage for Restricted items

International Services - Conditions of carriage for Restricted items

Special packaging requirements for sending Lithium-ion (including Lithium-ion polymer) batteries:

• A maximum of 2 batteries, or 4 cells (single cell batteries), maybe contained in equipment per parcel.
• Each cell or battery must be under a certain power capacity rating:
  • Each Lithium-ion cell - maximum 20 Watt-hours.
  • Each Lithium-ion battery - maximum 100 Watt-hours.
    (Batteries for most consumer devices are likely to be under this limit eg. mobile phones, laptops, tablet computers, cameras etc. The Wh rating will be printed on the battery or may be stated in the device manual).
• The device must be switched off and packaged so that it can not move around or be accidentally activated during transport.
• The device with battery must be in strong external packaging to withstand a 1.2m drop.

If sending within New Zealand, additional requirements are:

• If the device/equipment is being returned for repair, the battery must be removed and wrapped separately within the parcel if possible.
• If the device/equipment is brand new and in the original packaging, send it as it was packed by the manufacturer.
• If the device/equipment is used, leave the battery inside the device/equipment and ensure that it cannot be switched on.
• There are no additional documentation or labelling requirements.

If sending overseas, additional requirements are:

• Only available to be sent overseas using International Express Courier.
• Lithium-ion batteries must be contained (installed) in equipment/device.
• The Lithium-ion Battery Document – International for International Express Courier (ADV550) (PDF - 146KB) must be completed by the sender and included in the clear pouch with the consignment note. ADV550 – Lithium-ion Battery Document (PDF - 146KB) is available at PostShops and New Zealand Post retail outlets, and online to download.

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Completing documentation fully and accurately

Labels, Forms and Declarations

All information provided to us must be complete and accurate.

If you are sending an item internationally, then you will be required to complete a form containing customs and consignment information.

The type of form will depend on the item’s weight, size and/or the value of its contents, and on whether you are sending the item as a consumer or a business. In store, small green customs declaration forms and larger, white consignment notes are available for use.

We rely on the contents and value disclosures you make

You acknowledge that we will rely on the information you provide us for safety purposes and for valuation purposes if your item is damaged or lost in transit.

You may not list an item and value for customs, consignment and/or postage purposes, and then claim a different item or higher value from us.

Providing incomplete and/or inaccurate information may reduce your chances of a successful claim if your item is damaged or lost in transit; and may constitute a criminal offence subject to fines and penalties.

How do I package my item?

The general handling and transport processes are the same for all items

As such, we cannot provide any special treatment for items that are:

• fragile;
• affected by changes in temperature (for example, certain types of chocolate);
• simply inadequately packaged.

It is not sufficient to affix labels such as ‘fragile’ or ‘handle with care’ to your item.

Your responsibility

By accepting your item, we do not acknowledge that your packaging is sufficient to ensure the item is delivered undamaged.

Wrap to allow for a 1.2m drop

It is your responsibility to ensure that any item is well packaged and can withstand a 1.2 metre drop.

Use common sense, and wrap your items well. Account for the fact that they may be dropped, including on an angle, have items dropped on them, be nudged, placed sideways and/or upside down. Pay particular attention to cushion the corners and consider whether your items would be best protected by the use of an inside and outside container.

Sending bees within New Zealand

Honey or Bee products can be sent overseas if they meet the following criteria:

• Must be sent using our Courier service for next working day delivery.
• Any parcels sent on Friday should be upgraded for Saturday Delivery subject to Saturday delivery availability to the receiving address.
• Please ensure that you check if the receiving address is Rural, as these addresses may take longer to deliver to.
• The sender of the Honey or Bee products MUST be a registered exporter, or the product must have come from a registered exporter.
• The exporter must have labelled the parcel with the exporter ID, exporter address, and either product ID and batch number, or transfer document number.
• Honey or Bee product must be addressed to a private individual (not a company).
• The maximum weight limit of any shipment including honey or bee products is 2kg (this is inclusive of the packaging and any other items in the package).

Note: Consumers are unable to send honey as a gift overseas unless they are a registered exporter. For more information please refer to MPI’s General Export Requirements for Bee Products.

Packaging guidelines

• Live bees should be enclosed in suitable packaging to remove all risk of injury to anyone in contact with the item.
• Ventilation should be robust and ensure all contents are contained within the parcel, but provide adequate circulation.
• Where food supply is necessary, it should be of “hard candy” type substitute, such that it will not leak from the parcel.
• Each item must be clearly marked “Live bees” (or similar) so that it can be easily identified; and please ensure the Post Shop staff or Courier are aware of the contents when the parcel is lodged or collected.
• It is acceptable to send bees domestically using the NZ Post packaging range (including upgraded Postage Included Bags, upgraded to Courier service) provided the bees are contained within the appropriate ‘cages’ (or other similar strong protective containers) with small holes punched in the bag for ventilation.

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