Shipping times and costs from United States of America to New Zealand

Shipping Container Costs to New Zealand

If you’re considering shipping your items to New Zealand via sea freight, you’ll be pleased to know it’s the cheapest option by far – with air freight costing 12-16 times more. Overall, shipping costs to New Zealand are usually pretty reasonable, but the final price will depend on what you’re shipping, where you’re travelling to and from, and how much you’re moving.  

How to get quotes for shipping to New Zealand

If you’d like a more accurate idea of how much shipping to New Zealand will cost you, all you have to do is fill out this short form. Once you’ve filled out the form:

• You’ll be asked to provide a few details about your journey
• If we have shipping partners who can help you, they’ll contact you with quotes
• You’ll then be able to compare quotes and pick the deal that suits you best

The majority of our shipping suppliers will also be able to make the whole process smoother by delivering door-to-door, and by helping to prepare your shipment for customs.  

Should you choose sea freight or air freight?

There are pros and cons to both options – you just have to figure out which one works best for your circumstances.  Benefits of Sea Freight

• A 99.99% safety record
• Sea freight is 12-16 times cheaper than air freight
• You’re typically able to fit more on a ship than a plane
• A container ship creates 44 times less CO2 than a plane
• The International Maritime Organisation has pledged to reduce CO2 emissions from shipping by 40% by 2030

 Benefits of Air Freight

• An identical 99.99% safety record
• Planes are faster

 

Clearing customs at the New Zealand border

You need to create an inventory – which is just a fancy name for a packing list – of all the items you’re bringing into New Zealand. The Kiwis run a very strict quarantine system, which means almost all shipments are physically inspected. Risky items include tyres, diamonds, and plant and animal products (including food and accessories). You can bring your household goods and personal belongings into New Zealand duty-free, but you must have owned and used these items before your move. You’ll also need to hold a residence visa or a long-term work permit. Our suppliers will usually help you through this process, but it’s also a good idea to consult your nearest New Zealand embassy for more information.  

Popular shipping ports in New Zealand

1. Port of Tauranga – Handling more than 20 million tonnes of cargo annually, including 41% of the country's exports, this is the largest port in New Zealand.
2. Port of Auckland – This is New Zealand’s busiest port, and home to its third-largest container terminal. It also hopes to be the greenest port one day – committing to produce zero emissions by 2040.
3. Port of Wellington – Its location on the southern tip of the country, combined with its status as the capital city of New Zealand, means that there is a lot of traffic into and out of this port.
4. Napier Port – After expanding its port, Napier now has the fourth-largest capacity to hold containers in New Zealand.
5. Lyttleton Port – As the largest port in the south of New Zealand, Lyttleton is the meeting point for cruise ships and for ships carrying goods.