UK ⇆ New Zealand Shipping Rates 2024

UK ⇆ New Zealand
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Commercial shipping

We offer bespoke prices and contract rates based on your consignment’s volume and regularity. We help you to understand your business needs and offer you a rate and service that suits your business.

Please feel free to contact us and discuss your commercial shipping needs:

Direct line:
020 8867 0904 option 1.

Direct email:
[email protected]

*** Prices shown on this page are for indication purposes only.

Sea Freight

shipping to New Zealand

FCL rates

New Zealand 20ft container  40ft container 
Auckland Sea Port £1595.00 £2065.00
Christchurch Sea Port £1690.00 £2253.00
Wellington Sea Port £1721.00 £2361.00

LCL rates - Less than Container Load

LCL shipping from our London office in Feltham TW14 post code

Total Volume * Auckland
1 CBM £328.00
5 CBM £415.00
10 CBM £650.00

*Volumetric pricing

Destination 50 kilos 200 kilos 500 kilos
Auckland £215.00 £385.00 £815.00

Air Freight

  • Delivery of cargo can vary from 3 - 7 working days form Door to airport
  • London Heathrow Airport - New Zealand airports:
Destination  50 kilos 200 kilos 500 kilos
Auckland (AKL) £261.50 £589.00 £1230.00
Christchurch (CHC) £293.50 £738.00 £1610.00
Wellington (WLG) £333.50 £862.00 £1695.00

* Documentation surcharge applies to any shipping to New Zealand.
* For an accurate price, please use our online quotation form above and provide detailed information about your shipment requirement to New Zealand.

Exporting to New Zealand

1. New Zealand export overview

New Zealand has a population of over 4.6 million and a global ranking of 23 for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita at current exchange rates. Its economy was worth about £140 billion in 2016.

For many years earnings were mainly from farm products, such as wool and dairy goods. Today these are combined with new developments like tourism, film production, and winemaking.

New Zealand depends heavily on international trade, especially with Australia, China, the United States and Japan. Economic free-market reforms from the 1980s have removed many barriers to foreign investment.

Strong cultural ties with the UK have created a shared trust – a great platform to start doing business.

Benefits for UK businesses exporting to New Zealand include:

  • similar legal and financial systems to the UK
  • excellent test market for niche and high-value products and services
  • English speaking
  • low corruption levels
  • stable political system
  • ranks first of 189 economies for ease of doing business

Strengths of the New Zealand market include:

  • geographic position allows for easy access to Pacific Island market
  • opposite time zones allow for 24 hour working
  • small but developed market
  • strong intellectual property (IP) and regulatory systems

2. Challenges doing business in New Zealand

Doing business in New Zealand is very similar to doing business in the UK. If your product or service is successful in the UK, there’s a good chance you’ll be successful in New Zealand. At present there are no major challenges to UK companies.

3. Growth potential

3.1 Economic growth

New Zealand has a strong, stable economy that operates on free market principles and has close economic relations with Australia. GDP registered 3.6% growth in the June 2015 to 2016 period. This is one of the strongest growth rates in the developed world.

At October 2016, unemployment was at 4.9%.

Services are the biggest sector of the economy and account for two thirds of total GDP. The other contributors are:

  • rental, hiring, and real estate services – 18%
  • retail and wholesale trade – 18%
  • professional, scientific, technical, administrative and support – 15%

New Zealand’s priority sectors for economic development include:

  • infrastructure and housing affordability
  • transport
  • tourism
  • digital economy
3.2 Trade agreements

New Zealand has unilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with:

  • Australia
  • China
  • Hong-Kong
  • Singapore
  • Malaysia
  • Thailand
  • Taiwan
  • South Korea

New Zealand is also a member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.

4. UK and New Zealand trade

The UK is New Zealand’s fifth largest 2-way trading partner. It is the fifth largest market for total exports from New Zealand and the ninth largest source market. Imports of goods and services from the UK were worth over £1.1 billion in 2015.

New Zealand’s top 5 imports from the UK are:

  1. vehicles
  2. machinery and mechanical parts
  3. electrical machinery and goods
  4. print products, such as books
  5. pharmaceutical products

5. Opportunities for UK businesses in New Zealand

The UK’s reputation for making high-quality goods is important, where it can compete with lower priced goods sourced from other countries. New Zealand’s small open market also makes it a sound choice for UK small and medium enterprise (SME) companies new to exporting.

5.1 Construction and infrastructure

The construction sector is one of the largest sectors in New Zealand, generating around £17 billion of gross revenue per year.

The most significant opportunities for UK firms are around Auckland’s ambitious infrastructure plans (a rail loop, new waterfront, and multiple large-scale housing developments).

New Zealand has a capable but overstretched construction industry. There are opportunities for UK expertise for:

  • designers
  • consulting engineers
  • building materials suppliers

Opportunities for UK companies include:

  • housing and infrastructure projects in Auckland
  • rail and road projects
5.2 Agri-technology

Despite weakening commodity prices, agriculture dominates exports from New Zealand. New Zealand’s has a world-renowned reputation for producing high quality dairy and meat products.

The government wants to increase investment in R&D in this sector which will also involve the food technology sector.

There are opportunities for UK companies in:

  • Research and Development (R&D)
  • technology
  • biotechnology
  • genetics
  • farm machinery
5.3 Health

New Zealand has one of the best funded public health sectors in the world. The market has a turnover of approximately £7.9 billion.

New Zealand has a growing aged population which will result in increased demand for healthcare and medical devices.

Opportunities for UK companies include:

  • medical devices
  • educational resources
  • safety devices
  • health technology
5.4 Education and training

Development of New Zealand’s ICT infrastructure in education continues to be a priority for the government. The sector is seeing a noticeable shift in procurement from physical to digital/online resources.

Teachers of religious studies and special needs report a lack of engaging resources.

Opportunities for UK companies include:

  • engaging resources
  • early childhood resources to support curriculum

6. Start-up considerations

New Zealand’s business-friendly taxation system supports:

  • capital development
  • research and development
  • international investment

There are three commonly used business structures in New Zealand:

  • sole trader
  • partnership
  • limited liability company (LLC)

You must register with the Companies Office. Overseas companies can operate in New Zealand as a subsidiary, branch or become a New Zealand company. It takes just one day to incorporate a business in New Zealand.

The New Zealand government’s business website contains information on starting, managing and growing your business.

All legislation relating to the conduct of business and the operation of companies is enacted by New Zealand’s parliament and administered by government agencies. You can see all legislation on the Parliamentary Counsel Office website.

For advice on legal issues, the New Zealand Law Society provides details of local lawyers.

7.1 Standards and technical regulations

All products sold in New Zealand must be safe. There are two key laws that deal with product safety:

  • the Consumer Guarantees Act, which gives minimum standards of quality for goods and services
  • the Fair Trading Act, which promotes product safety

Importers must ensure products meet the minimum standards for the products to be allowed to enter the country.

You can check the required standards at Standards New Zealand.

7.2 Intellectual property (IP)

The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) is the government agency responsible for granting and registering intellectual property.

Copyright protection automatically applies in New Zealand from the date of creation. Patents and trademarks only provide protection within New Zealand.

8. Tax and custom considerations

8.1 Goods and services tax

Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a tax on most goods and services in New Zealand. The current GST rate is 15%.

8.2 Company tax

The company tax rate is 28%. For more information visit Inland Revenue.

8.3 Individual income tax

Different types of individual income can include:

  • salary or wages
  • pensions
  • dividends
  • rental income
  • interest received

If you are not a New Zealand resident you will need to work out your tax residency status so you can find out your individual income tax rate.

8.4 Customs

All goods imported into New Zealand for business or commercial purposes are liable for Customs duty, GST and other applicable fees. Indicative rates can be found in the Working Tariff Document of New Zealand. The Customs NZ website explains how the charges are calculated.

UK-New Zealand freight options