Duty-free Shopping in New Zealand

© Ryan Wick on Flickr

Where Can You Buy Duty-free Goods in New Zealand?

Typically, you will find duty free stores where there is a lot of international traffic. In New Zealand, that means airports, on-board international flights, ports and cruise ships.

There is the exception of a duty-free store in Auckland CBD, DFS Galleria, but the same conditions apply that you must present your passport and travel ticket then collect the goods at the airport. However, you are not going to make huge backpacker savings here.

For the hardcore duty-free buyers, you can buy duty-free products online and pick them up from the airport. In order to do this, you need to provide flight details.DFS Duty-Free has a “buy on departure pick up on return” service, which is ideal if you are popping over to one of the nearby countries for a bit.

© Colleen Galvin on Flickr

What Sort of Goods Can You Buy Duty-free?

Other than Toblerone, you will find luxury jewellery, watches, perfume, handbags, luggage, accessories, chocolate, alcohol, tobacco, electronics, small gifts and children’s toys. Some brands have their own duty free stores, which usually fashion brands.

For inspiration, check out the 14 New Zealand Souvenirs for Your Friends and Family.

© Pixabay

Duty-free Allowances

The idea of duty-free is for you to make savings, not stock up on goods to sell for your own business. This is why most countries have an allowance of how much duty-free goods you can bring into the country.

If you are planning on filling your suitcase, make sure to check the duty-free allowances of your destination country.

The New Zealand Allowances per Adult are:

• No more than 3 bottles of spirits (up to a maximum of 1.125 millilitres each)
• 4.5 litre of wine, port, sherry, champagne (6 bottles) or beer (12 cans)
• Up to NZ$700 of other goods purchased duty-free or overseas
• 50 cigarettes, or 50g of tobacco.

Duty-Free Allowances for Other Countries

• Australia – 2.25 litres alcohol, 25 cigarettes or 25 grams tobacco
• Canada – 1 litre of alcohol, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars
• China – 1.5 litres alcohol, 400 cigarettes
• Fiji – 4.5 litres wine or beer or 2.25 litres spirits or liqueur, 250 cigarettes or250 grams tobacco or 250 grams cigars
• Hong Kong – 1 litre of alcohol, 19 cigarettes or25 grams of tobacco or 25 grams of cigars
• Japan – 3x 750ml of alcohol, Residents: 200 cigarettes, Non-residents: 400 cigarettes or250 grams tobacco
• Korea – 1 litre of alcohol, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars
• Malaysia – 1 litre of alcohol, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or225 grams tobacco
• New Caledonia – 2 litres of spirits except for Aniseed or Absinthe and 2 litres of wine, 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 400 grams tobacco
• Norfolk Island – 1 litre of alcoholic beverage, 200 cigarettes or 250 grams tobacco/cigars
• Samoa – 2.25 litres of alcohol, 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco/cigars
• Singapore – 1 litre of spirits and 1 litre of wine or beer, No cigarettes, all tobacco goods must be declared
• South Africa – 2 litres wine and 1 litre of spirits, 400 cigarettes and 250 grams tobacco and 50 cigars
• Taiwan – 1 litre of alcohol, 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or500 grams of tobacco
• Thailand – 1 litre of alcohol, 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco or equal weight of cigars
• Tonga – 2.25 litres of spirits or 4.5 litres of wine, 400 cigarettes or 500 grams of tobacco/cigars
• UK – 2 litres wine and 1 litre of spirits, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250 grams tobacco
• USA – 1 litre of alcohol, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 1,350 gms tobacco or combination, *Cuban cigars are not permitted to be imported
• Vanuatu – 2 litres wine and 1.5 litres spirits, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams tobacco.