New zealand customs fine - advice

baser999

NoodleDoodleMan said:

When I was a student, back in the Middle Ages, I got a job at a summer camp in the USA.

My mother gave me "emergency rations" for the flight - by the time we landed I had forgotten (genuinely) about a cheese roll that hadn't been scoffed.

The immigration agent at Boston asked if I had any prohibited foodstuffs, at that point I realised I had what might be classified as contraband - and readily confessed to my sins.

No big deal, the offending item was dumped and I got into the country without joining the FBI Most Wanted list !!!

The bottom line is that if you openly admit to having such stuff there is unlikely to be a big issue.

My partner said she was on a flight many years ago when the crew came around with fruit that was surplus. She said that very few of the passengers eat it as they weren’t far off landing so they tucked it into their bags. Needless to say, most got fined when they went through customs. 

eDicky

Emmia said:

jimi_man said:

eDicky said:

lon_85 said:

They have just written back stating their appeal failed and they need to pay fine or risk it increasing to 1000 nzd or go to court! Considering they are in another country now what are the consequences do they have any rights?

Well, they have the right to pay the original penalty amount, before it increases to NZD1000, nothing else.

Otherwise...

jimi_man said:

If they never want to travel to or through New Zealand again then I’d probably leave it. If they do, or there is a chance that they might then I’d pay it. 

I couldn't say how persistent they will be in collecting the fine, if unpaid. New Zealand and Australia are very strict on this kind of phytosanitary control.

I’m sure they are and they are their rules so they can do what they like. But they aren’t transferable to another country so unless NZ go down the road of extradition then there isn’t a lot they can do. 

And let’s face it no matter how seriously they take their rules, no-one is getting extradited for a fine of under £200! So I’d say they are pretty safe! 

Personally, at around £180 or so it’s chicken feed, so I’d just pay it - just in case I ever wanted to visit or route through NZ or Aus again. 

*I still don't understand how people inadvertently had two onions in their hand luggage.

I can understand, being less than innocent myself. About fifteen years ago a search of my person by a border services agent on arrival at Vancouver airport revealed a single lime from Thailand in my jacket pocket. The only penalty was a good bollicking from the agent, who could no doubt have imposed something more severe if not for my profuse apologies and the rather shriveled state of the lime indicating that it had been in my pocket for some time and was not a deliberate importation.

NoodleDoodleMan

baser999 said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

When I was a student, back in the Middle Ages, I got a job at a summer camp in the USA.

My mother gave me "emergency rations" for the flight - by the time we landed I had forgotten (genuinely) about a cheese roll that hadn't been scoffed.

The immigration agent at Boston asked if I had any prohibited foodstuffs, at that point I realised I had what might be classified as contraband - and readily confessed to my sins.

No big deal, the offending item was dumped and I got into the country without joining the FBI Most Wanted list !!!

The bottom line is that if you openly admit to having such stuff there is unlikely to be a big issue.

My partner said she was on a flight many years ago when the crew came around with fruit that was surplus. She said that very few of the passengers eat it as they weren’t far off landing so they tucked it into their bags. Needless to say, most got fined when they went through customs. 

I watched one of the border control documentaries on TV a few months ago where something similar occurred - but I think the unlucky victims had innocently filled in their customs declaration to the effect that they were not carrying prohibited foodstuffs into the country, unaware that fruit was contraband - Australia ?

Had they done so I assume they would have only gotten a verbal reprimand.

It seemed to me that the authorities impose fines in order to be consistent with taking action against those travellers who knowingly try and take in banned items.

The Chinese seem to be particularly guilty.

TripleH

Ballard said:

3molerat said:

Emmia said:

*I still don't understand how people inadvertently had two onions in their hand luggage.

I suggest watching some of the border control type programmes, particularly the Aus / NZ ones.  You would be amazed, watching one this morning and the person had "forgotten" they had a whole suitcase full of food !

I went to Aus & NZ back in 2015. On both flights they made announcements that no food whatsoever could be taken in, including anything supplied on the plane. In Auckland there was a lengthy queue (45 minutes if memory serves) to go through bio security where my walking boots were taken from my hold luggage and I was quizzed whether I’d been to any farms recently.

I’m not doubting that this was accidental, but you do have plenty of time to think about what’s in your luggage. 

I went to Australia in 2015. At customs my wife was going through her medication (as declared on her customs form). I asked about whether I could have brought in the rest of our wedding cake (fruit cake) if we'd declared it instead of me shovelling in the last piece somewhere over the outback (we'd brought it as a snack for the flight).

I was told that I would have been okay if I'd declared it. This was nine years ago and rules may have changed though.

sheramber

TripleH said:

Ballard said:

3molerat said:

Emmia said:

*I still don't understand how people inadvertently had two onions in their hand luggage.

I suggest watching some of the border control type programmes, particularly the Aus / NZ ones.  You would be amazed, watching one this morning and the person had "forgotten" they had a whole suitcase full of food !

I went to Aus & NZ back in 2015. On both flights they made announcements that no food whatsoever could be taken in, including anything supplied on the plane. In Auckland there was a lengthy queue (45 minutes if memory serves) to go through bio security where my walking boots were taken from my hold luggage and I was quizzed whether I’d been to any farms recently.

I’m not doubting that this was accidental, but you do have plenty of time to think about what’s in your luggage. 

I went to Australia in 2015. At customs my wife was going through her medication (as declared on her customs form). I asked about whether I could have brought in the rest of our wedding cake (fruit cake) if we'd declared it instead of me shovelling in the last piece somewhere over the outback (we'd brought it as a snack for the flight).

I was told that I would have been okay if I'd declared it. This was nine years ago and rules may have changed though.

items you can bring into Australia

https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/can-you-bring-it-in/list-of-items

Biscuits, bread, cakes, pastries, Christmas cake, and Christmas pudding (excluding cheesecakes)Press Enter to hide more details.	Food and drinkPress Enter to hide more details.	BRING ITPress Enter to hide more details.
These products are allowed into Australia if: they are for personal consumption they are fully cooked, shelf stable (do not require refrigeration) and contain no meat any fillings or toppings are cooked with the cake.

For New Zealnd food items must be declared. They will be inspected to decide if allowable.

marcia_

sheramber said:

TripleH said:

Ballard said:

3molerat said:

Emmia said:

*I still don't understand how people inadvertently had two onions in their hand luggage.

I suggest watching some of the border control type programmes, particularly the Aus / NZ ones.  You would be amazed, watching one this morning and the person had "forgotten" they had a whole suitcase full of food !

I went to Aus & NZ back in 2015. On both flights they made announcements that no food whatsoever could be taken in, including anything supplied on the plane. In Auckland there was a lengthy queue (45 minutes if memory serves) to go through bio security where my walking boots were taken from my hold luggage and I was quizzed whether I’d been to any farms recently.

I’m not doubting that this was accidental, but you do have plenty of time to think about what’s in your luggage. 

I went to Australia in 2015. At customs my wife was going through her medication (as declared on her customs form). I asked about whether I could have brought in the rest of our wedding cake (fruit cake) if we'd declared it instead of me shovelling in the last piece somewhere over the outback (we'd brought it as a snack for the flight).

I was told that I would have been okay if I'd declared it. This was nine years ago and rules may have changed though.

items you can bring into Australia

https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/can-you-bring-it-in/list-of-items

Biscuits, bread, cakes, pastries, Christmas cake, and Christmas pudding (excluding cheesecakes)Press Enter to hide more details.	Food and drinkPress Enter to hide more details.	BRING ITPress Enter to hide more details.
These products are allowed into Australia if: they are for personal consumption they are fully cooked, shelf stable (do not require refrigeration) and contain no meat any fillings or toppings are cooked with the cake.

For New Zealnd food items must be declared. They will be inspected to decide if allowable.

 Yes you can bring in many foods into Australia but they must be declared on the passenger information card and be identifiable and in English packaging so they can see the ingredients in case they contain banned food stuffs 

martindow

sheramber said:

items you can bring into Australia

https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/can-you-bring-it-in/list-of-items

Biscuits, bread, cakes, pastries, Christmas cake, and Christmas pudding (excluding cheesecakes)Press Enter to hide more details.	Food and drinkPress Enter to hide more details.	BRING ITPress Enter to hide more details.
These products are allowed into Australia if: they are for personal consumption they are fully cooked, shelf stable (do not require refrigeration) and contain no meat any fillings or toppings are cooked with the cake.

For New Zealnd food items must be declared. They will be inspected to decide if allowable.

This would be a problem for a Christmas or wedding cake, I would think, as marzipan and icing are definitely not 'cooked with the cake'.

noitsnotme

martindow said:

sheramber said:

items you can bring into Australia

https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/can-you-bring-it-in/list-of-items

Biscuits, bread, cakes, pastries, Christmas cake, and Christmas pudding (excluding cheesecakes)Press Enter to hide more details.	Food and drinkPress Enter to hide more details.	BRING ITPress Enter to hide more details.
These products are allowed into Australia if: they are for personal consumption they are fully cooked, shelf stable (do not require refrigeration) and contain no meat any fillings or toppings are cooked with the cake.

For New Zealnd food items must be declared. They will be inspected to decide if allowable.

This would be a problem for a Christmas or wedding cake, I would think, as marzipan and icing are definitely not 'cooked with the cake'.

Yet further up it specifically says you can bring in Christmas cake.  As clear as mud (or cake)!

NoodleDoodleMan

martindow said:

sheramber said:

items you can bring into Australia

https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/can-you-bring-it-in/list-of-items

Biscuits, bread, cakes, pastries, Christmas cake, and Christmas pudding (excluding cheesecakes)Press Enter to hide more details.	Food and drinkPress Enter to hide more details.	BRING ITPress Enter to hide more details.
These products are allowed into Australia if: they are for personal consumption they are fully cooked, shelf stable (do not require refrigeration) and contain no meat any fillings or toppings are cooked with the cake.

For New Zealnd food items must be declared. They will be inspected to decide if allowable.

This would be a problem for a Christmas or wedding cake, I would think, as marzipan and icing are definitely not 'cooked with the cake'.

Wandering off topic a bit - so what else is new on MSE ?

I stayed a few days with ex Pat friends in northern Maine many years ago - it was his birthday coming up so his wife and I went into town to get ingredients to make a cake.

I was tasked to get Marzipan - when I asked for it in a local grocery store the girl behind the counter looked at me with the classic "lights are on in the house, but nobody home" look. She called other staff and got a similar "what the heck is that ?" response. You would have thought I'd just landed from another planet !!!

I tried rephrasing the question, as they do in courtroom damas - and asked for Almond Paste....couldn't think of any other way to put it !!!

Even more of a puzzled look from the staff.

I then explained that it was an icing used in cake decoration back in "the old country" - another waste of time !!!

Can't now recall what topping we ended up using - but a traditional British cake it was not.

Talk about cultural differences !!!

 

eskbanker

NoodleDoodleMan said:

martindow said:

sheramber said:

items you can bring into Australia

https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/can-you-bring-it-in/list-of-items

Biscuits, bread, cakes, pastries, Christmas cake, and Christmas pudding (excluding cheesecakes)Press Enter to hide more details.	Food and drinkPress Enter to hide more details.	BRING ITPress Enter to hide more details.
These products are allowed into Australia if: they are for personal consumption they are fully cooked, shelf stable (do not require refrigeration) and contain no meat any fillings or toppings are cooked with the cake.

For New Zealnd food items must be declared. They will be inspected to decide if allowable.

This would be a problem for a Christmas or wedding cake, I would think, as marzipan and icing are definitely not 'cooked with the cake'.

Wandering off topic a bit - so what else is new on MSE ?

I stayed a few days with ex Pat friends in northern Maine many years ago - it was his birthday coming up so his wife and I went into town to get ingredients to make a cake.

I was tasked to get Marzipan - when I asked for it in a local grocery store the girl behind the counter looked at me with the classic "lights are on in the house, but nobody home" look. She called other staff and got a similar "what the heck is that ?" response. You would have thought I'd just landed from another planet !!!

I tried rephrasing the question, as they do in courtroom damas - and asked for Almond Paste....couldn't think of any other way to put it !!!

Even more of a puzzled look from the staff.

I then explained that it was an icing used in cake decoration back in "the old country" - another waste of time !!!

Can't now recall what topping we ended up using - but a traditional British cake it was not.

Talk about cultural differences !!!

As you say, it's veering ever further off-topic, but I can't really see anything particularly remarkable about going to a foreign country and finding that they don't necessarily stock all the same foodstuffs that are readily found in the UK?  Not saying it's an exclusively British phenomenon to have expectations like that though....