[MotherBear]

Originally Posted by Bermy Girl

I know desperation when I hear it! Okay guys, give me a little list of what you're craving. Shellbda and I will probably be the only ones who will have room in our luggage as we are only coming for a short stay, so we shall have some room for choccies and crisps...well, I will anyway, Shellbda's luggage maybe full of rum...

Enter party-pooper stage right.

How do we stand regarding bringing food into NZ? I know people have brought stuff in their container, but they do make a fuss when you're coming in on the plane. The first time I arrived there I had a half-eaten packet of Polo mints. I declared it and they took it off me and gave it a good scrutinising before handing it back to me.

This link to the customs site asks

Goods of Quarantine Interest

Does the baggage contain:

• Food of any kind (raw or processed)
• Animals (alive or dead) or animal products including, but not limited to: medicines, meat (fresh or dried), skins, feathers, bone, wool, eggs, cultures, shells, hair, honey, or hunting trophies, and manufactured items made from animal products including skins, ivory, and fur
• Plants or plant products including, but not limited to: fruit, vegetables, seeds, flowers (fresh or dried), nuts, bulbs, cane, straw, bamboo, wood or wooden artifacts
• Equipment used with animals or plants including, but not limited to: saddlery, bee-keeping equipment, things to prevent pests or disease in animals, or items associated with forests or trees
• Used camping, garden or sporting equipment, bicycles, vehicles, soil, or water

It doesn't say you can't bring things in, but it makes a point of wanting to know about what you bring in. I know that the food mustn't be fruit or veg and honey and other food must be in unopened packages, and shouldn't contain seeds and such things that might leap into life if they somehow come into contact with NZ soil, but is there a list somewhere of what is allowed in and what isn't?