Kia ora. Seven branches across Aotearoa, from Auckland to Dunedin
Customs Broker New Zealand
Your goods are cleared by someone who answers the phone, not a queue.
Platinum® Freight Management clears parcels, air cargo and sea freight through the New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). One broker manages your shipment from quote to delivery.
How is your shipment arriving in New Zealand?
Each way into New Zealand has its own paperwork and charges. Choose yours to see the journey, what we need and when to call us.
Sea freight: full container load (FCL)
Your goods have a container to themselves. The aim is to have it cleared before it reaches the wharf.
- Best time to call us
Before you pay a deposit
Send us your supplier's invoice and we return a detailed costing.
Container departs
Your supplier issues the bill of lading. We prepare your entry while it is at sea.
- Charges can start
Arrives at the port
Port storage and container detention can apply once it lands.
Cleared by NZCS and MPI
We aim to have your entry cleared before the container arrives.
Delivered to you
Delivered to your door, or ready for you to collect.
- Invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading
Before you pay your supplier a deposit
Sea freight: less than a container load (LCL)
Your goods share a container with other cargo, so the depot is where costs can build up.
- Best time to call us
Before you pay a deposit
Send us your supplier's invoice and we return a detailed costing.
Goods depart
Your goods ship in a shared container under a bill of lading.
- Charges can start
Unpacked at the depot
Depot storage can apply once the container is unpacked.
Cleared by NZCS and MPI
Pre-cleared, so your goods leave the depot quickly.
Delivered to you
Delivered to your door, or ready for you to collect.
- Invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading
Before you pay your supplier a deposit
Air cargo
Air cargo moves fast, so the clearance needs to start before the flight lands.
- Best time to call us
Before your goods fly
Send us your supplier's invoice and we return a detailed costing.
Flight departs
The air waybill is issued. We start your entry as soon as the cargo departs.
- Charges can start
Lands at the airline terminal
Terminal storage can apply while your cargo waits.
Cleared by NZCS and MPI
Your entry is lodged and your cargo released.
Delivered to you
Delivered to your door, or ready for you to collect.
- Invoice
- Packing list
- Air waybill
Before the flight departs
NZ Post parcels
For parcels that travelled as postal articles and are held by NZ Post for customs clearance.
Parcel posted overseas
Your parcel travels to New Zealand as a postal article.
Arrives in New Zealand
It is checked on arrival and held for customs clearance.
- Your parcel waits here
Held by NZ Post
You receive a notice that customs clearance is needed.
- Best time to call us
Send us the paperwork
Forward the invoice and your NZ Post notice or tracking number.
Cleared and released
We lodge the entry and NZ Post can deliver your parcel.
- Invoice
- NZ Post notice or tracking number
As soon as you receive the NZ Post notice
Platinum® clears new goods only. We do not work with pre-owned or used goods.
Customs clearance for businesses, individuals and first-time importers
Business importers
Keep your supply chain moving
For businesses that import regularly and cannot afford goods sitting at the port.
- Extended operating hours and our One Touch™ service
- Pre-clearance to avoid storage and detention charges
- Duty and GST assessed against NZCS, MPI and IRD requirements
Individuals
One-off purchases, handled with care
For people bringing in something special from overseas for their home or whānau, from a spa pool to a prefab home.
- A clear costing before you commit
- Safe and timely delivery within New Zealand
- One person to talk to from start to finish
First-time importers
Know the issues before you pay a deposit
Platinum® is aware of the issues before you even decide to purchase the goods.
- Duty, MPI and paperwork issues flagged early
- Guidance on what your overseas supplier must provide
- Plain-English answers to the questions new importers ask
How customs clearance works with Platinum®
The most important step happens before your goods leave the supplier.
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Get a costing before you pay
Before you pay a deposit, call 0800 166 716 or upload your supplier's invoice. You receive a detailed costing.
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Nominate Platinum® as your broker
We work with your supplier to get the documents right, then clear your goods before they arrive.
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Released by NZCS and MPI
Your goods are cleared through Customs and biosecurity. We deliver them to your door, or help you collect them.
A customs expert on every shipment, not a call centre
Platinum® was founded by Peter McRae, a customs broker since 1998. For more than 25 years the team has cleared imports into Aotearoa New Zealand. Importing is like a puzzle: some pieces come from your supplier, some from you. We put them together and make a compliant declaration to NZCS and MPI.
- 25+ years in New ZealandClearing imports by air, sea and post
- NZCS and MPI know-howDuty, GST and biosecurity checked before your goods ship
- Seven local branchesFrom Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland to Ōtepoti Dunedin
- One Touch™ serviceOne broker and one point of contact, from quote to delivery
Listen to the Platinum Freight® Podcast
All episodesWhat does a customs broker do in New Zealand?
A customs broker prepares and lodges your import entry with the New Zealand Customs Service (Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa), checks biosecurity requirements with the Ministry for Primary Industries (Manatū Ahu Matua), calculates duty and GST, and arranges release of your goods.
A good broker does most of this before your goods arrive. Platinum® reviews your supplier's documents before shipping, so problems are fixed overseas rather than at the border, where storage charges begin. To see what goes into your landed cost, read our guide to fees for importing goods into New Zealand.
Customs and freight services
From a single parcel to a full container, Platinum® manages the clearance and, when you need it, the freight.
Platinum Customs® Clearance
Customs clearance for parcels, air cargo and sea freight, meeting NZCS and MPI requirements.
02NZ Post customs clearance
Parcels held by NZ Post, cleared and released so they can continue to you.
03Platinum Freight® Forwarding
We work with you and your supplier so every arrival concern is addressed before your goods ship.
04Platinum Logistics®
Moving your commercial goods across international borders into New Zealand on your behalf.
05Platinum Transport®
Delivery from the terminal, depot or wharf to your door once your goods are cleared.
What Importers Say About Platinum®
Reviews from businesses and individuals who have cleared their imports into Aotearoa New Zealand with Platinum®.
Customs Clearance Questions, Answered
The questions New Zealand importers ask us most. For more, see our full importing FAQs.
Ask a broker: 0800 166 716Do I need a customs broker to import into New Zealand?
You can lodge your own import entry, but most businesses use a customs broker because errors cause delays, storage charges and penalties. A broker classifies your goods, calculates duty and GST, meets MPI biosecurity requirements and lodges the entry with NZCS on your behalf.
How much does a customs broker cost in New Zealand?
A customs broker's fee depends on how your goods arrive and how complex the clearance is. It is charged on top of duty, GST and government fees. Platinum® provides a detailed costing before you pay your supplier, so you know your full landed cost with no surprises.
How long does customs clearance take in New Zealand?
Clearance time depends mainly on how much notice your broker has. When Platinum® receives your documents before the goods depart, we can often clear them before they arrive in New Zealand, so they are released without waiting at the terminal, depot or port.
What documents do I need for customs clearance?
At a minimum you need a commercial invoice, a packing list and a transport document: an air waybill for air cargo or a bill of lading for sea freight. Parcels held by NZ Post need the invoice and the NZ Post notice or tracking number.
Who pays the customs broker's fee?
The importer pays. The broker's fee is charged on top of any import duty, import GST and entry fees that NZCS charges for shipments over NZ$1,000.
What other fees should I allow for?
Allow for airline terminal charges for air cargo, depot charges for LCL sea freight, and port charges and container detention for FCL sea freight. Clearing your goods early is the best way to keep these charges down.
Do you clear used or second-hand goods?
No. Platinum® clears new goods only. We do not work with pre-owned or used goods.
Can Platinum® clear parcels held by NZ Post?
Yes. Platinum® clears parcels that travelled to New Zealand as postal articles and are held by NZ Post for customs clearance, as well as air cargo and LCL and FCL sea freight.
Know your landed cost before you pay a deposit
Send us your supplier's invoice and a New Zealand customs broker will come back to you with a detailed costing.
Every shipment has a number. Every person has a name. Platinum® knows the difference.