Pre-Shipment Checklist - Importing Boats to New Zealand

Import Compliance - (Boats with Trailers ONLY)

Once arrived you will need to register your trailer and obtain a Warrant of Fitness.

Have you considered GST & Duty?

Import GST and Duties are payable in addition to any quotation we provide, GST is 15% and Duty is based on the country of manufacture. As a guide, for countries which we have no free-trade agreement it is generally 5%. Taxes are payable on the landed value, which is the purchase price of the boat(plus duty if applicable), plus freight, plus insurance x GST. Otherwise known as the CIF (Cost+Insurance+Freight) price.

Personal Effects - GST / Duty Exemption

In some cases you may be exempt from paying GST / Duty, you will need to meet all the following conditions:

Returning New Zealanders

A small ship is defined as :

• Sailing vessel not exceeding 2.5 metres in width and not exceeding 1,000kg unladen.
• Powered vessel not exceeding 7 metres in length, not exceeding 2.5 meters wide and not exceed 1,250kg unladen.

• Be a returning New Zealand citizen. 
• Be prepared to give a written undertaking where you agree not to sell the ship for at least 2 years.
• Ship must have been owned and used for the last 12 months. 
…and you must provide the following documents:
• Proof of ownership over the last 12 months. 
• Purchase documentation for the ship or a current NZ valuation from a local dealer

New Immigrants

• Be a first-time immigrant. 
• You must have been out of New Zealand for over 21 months. 
• Provide a written undertaking the ship will not be used for commercial use within 2 years.
• Be prepared to give a written undertaking where you agree not to sell the ship for at least 2 years.
• Ship must have been owned and used for the last 12 months. 
…and you must provide the following documents:
• Proof of ownership over the last 12 months. 
• Purchase documentation for the ship or a current NZ valuation from a local dealer

Quarantine Requirements

It's very important that the boat is spotless both inside and out. All dirt etc on the trailer needs to be water blasted off, and the hull should be clean and free of any organic matter, such as barnacles etc. The inside should be washed and vacuumed so there is no dirt or leaves etc inside the boat. This includes engine bays and hatches.

Boat Preparation

Outside your Boat

• Consider removing anything that will reduce the overall volume of your yacht like swim platforms, radar arches, flybridges, keels and bowsprits. The smaller you can make your boat the lower the shipping price will normally be.
• Hatches should be tightly secured and sealed with tape to prevent damage from wind/sea driven water and prevent the hatch from coming open while in transit.

Inside your Boat

• Make sure all items have been battened down securely including hatches, the open sea can have some tremendous forces that do considerable damage if something comes loose.
• NO personal items to be left on board the boat.
• Check all drain plugs, there should be no water in the bilge as this becomes a quarantine issue on arrival.
• The batteries should be disconnected, and the cables tied off to prevent contact.
• Drain the fuel and water tanks as much as possible, ensuring the tank is no more than 1/4 full. If your boat is being shipped during winter months then water should be drained from water systems, pumps and air conditioners.

Have you taken out Marine Insurance?

Not compulsory, but worth asking us for a quote. Your road insurance will not cover any damage that may occur while in transit. Find out why you need Marine Insurance

Documentation Required

• Bill of Sale
• If purchasing your boat, we will need a copy of the Bill of Sale from the seller. If you already own the boat, then we need a copy of the original purchase Bill of Sale.
• If this has been misplaced, then it will need to have a valuation done on arrival.
• Photo ID
• A high-quality colour scan copy of the photo page from your passport, or your Australian Drivers Licence.
• Boat title / Ownership papers
• Depending on the country of purchase, and in some cases the state, the boat will have a title or ownership paper. Do not have these sent to you or altered until our agent instructs the seller. In many cases the original documents are needed in order to export the country of origin.

Boats with Wooden Cradles

If your boat is not on its own trailer, then it will require a cradle to be carried on any vessel. We can construct a custom cradle for your boat from either steel or timber, depending on your hull design. If your yacht comes with its own cradle, or you are commissioning a bespoke cradle elsewhere, it needs to be either steel, or ISPM15 compliant timber, or fumigation fees and cradle destruction will apply on arrival into New Zealand.