Reading that I notice that gifts with a value over $110 are subject to duty. ?Something to bear in mind. :-?

Our experience may be a little out of date now, as we came over in June 2005. ?We came to NZ on a VV - the six of us came over the AirNZ via LA route and we could have taken 12 suitcases (we took 11). ?Actually, I wonder if we were entitled to that allowance considering we were on a VV rather than having been granted the right to live in NZ ... anyway, we did it. ?In those suitcases were clothes, duvet covers, sheets, towels, saucepans, cutlery, a few kids toys, documents, etc. ?

We chose to buy such things as duvet inners in NZ as they took up too much room in suitcases. ?We bought other new things, and basically coped with minimal furniture until we received the contents of the container two months later. ?You would be surprised how few possessions one really needs. ?We hadn't got PR by that time but had escaped paying duty due to the fact that we told them our application was in the system. ?We thought they were going to charge a returnable 'bond', but they didn't - probably because (in our case) PR was expected within three weeks, even though it did take seven weeks.

I think you have to be respectful of the rules, but they do try and help new immigrants if they are genuine - it is not a good start to NZ life for a new immigrant to have to pay 12.5% duty on their household effects. ? ?They do try to watch for the odd person importing with their household effects, or at a later date in posted packages, items which they will then sell in NZ to make money.

I don't know how long you expect you will waiting for PR. ?Depending on that, keeping your stuff in UK storage for a month or so would be a better idea than keeping it in storage in NZ, as Customs and MAF will want to process it within a month or two.

:)