Most goods enter New Zealand duty-free already, and the gap is closing for India: the NZ–India FTA has been ratified by both countries and enters into force on 20 October 2026. Chinese goods use the NZ–China FTA, and Vietnamese goods use CPTPP, AANZFTA or RCEP.
As of 28 September 2026. Checked against official sources.
Most goods imported into New Zealand have no tariff; rates of 5% or 10% apply to some textiles, footwear, processed foods, machinery, steel and plastic products.
The NZ–India FTA enters into force on 20 October 2026. The Government of India reports duty-free access for all Indian exports; until then Indian goods pay NZ’s normal tariff.
China uses the NZ–China FTA; Vietnam uses CPTPP, AANZFTA or RCEP. Compliance centres on eight mandatory product safety standards and electrical supplier declarations.
As of 28 September 2026. Every rate depends on the product’s HS code, so treat this as the map and check your own codes before you order.
The NZ–India FTA has been ratified by both countries and enters into force on 20 October 2026. The Government of India reports that 100% of Indian exports will get duty-free access.
Until 20 October 2026, Indian goods pay NZ’s normal tariff: zero for most goods, 5% or 10% for some textiles, footwear, plastics and machinery.
The NZ–China FTA gives preferential rates to Chinese-origin goods; RCEP is an alternative route.
Three agreements cover Vietnamese goods; importers use the one whose rules of origin the product meets.
Ratified by both countries. Duty-free access for Indian exports, according to the Government of India.
Preferential rates for Chinese-origin goods.
Three preference routes for Vietnamese goods.
Model it for your product: Find the HS code Compare landed cost
New Zealand’s product rules are few but strict, and non-compliant goods can be seized at the border.
Eight products have mandatory standards: baby walkers, bicycles, children’s nightwear, children’s toys (up to 36 months), cigarette and utility lighters, household cots, multipurpose ladders and sunscreen. Non-compliant goods are prohibited imports and can be seized.
Declared medium-risk electrical articles need a supplier declaration of conformity before sale, and high-risk articles need approval. Many products also carry the RCM shared with Australia.
Clothing and textiles need fibre content, care and country-of-origin labels under the Fair Trading Act consumer information standards.
Timber packaging must meet biosecurity import rules; ask your supplier for ISPM 15-marked pallets and crates.
Indicative port-to-port planning ranges, not a carrier schedule. Transhipment, blank sailings and routing change them; confirm with the carrier at booking.
Direct or via Australia
Transhipped in South-East Asia
Transhipped at Singapore or Port Klang
For small NZ volumes, consolidation and minimum order quantities often matter more than duty. We plan both.
Running both? Plan a China + 1 second source
Our teams in Bengaluru and Ningbo find, audit and inspect factories for New Zealand brands buying from India and China, and collect the evidence your market asks for.
Named manufacturers in India and China, checked by calls, matched to New Zealand requirements.
Factory price, freight, duty and taxes side by side, so you compare lanes, not quotes.
Find the likely HS code first; every duty rate on this page depends on it.
Rules of origin checked at the factory, up to 5 HS lines, so your zero-duty claim is defensible.
In-line, pre-shipment and loading inspections by our own team in India and China.
The New Zealand rules above turned into a supplier evidence list, collected at the factory.
Checked on 28 September 2026 and refreshed monthly. Official government, customs and EU sources first; commentary is named as such. This page explains the rules in plain English. For a view on your own products, ask our team or your customs broker.
Checked on 28 September 2026. We update this guide when duties or rules move.
anirudh@sourcesquid.coOn 20 October 2026. New Zealand and India have both ratified the agreement. The Government of India reports that all Indian exports will get duty-free access to New Zealand from that date, subject to the agreement’s rules of origin.
Until 20 October 2026, New Zealand’s normal tariff applies. Most goods have no tariff; rates of 5% or 10% apply to some textiles, footwear, processed foods, machinery, steel and plastic products. GST of 15% applies at import.
Baby walkers, bicycles, children’s nightwear, children’s toys up to 36 months, cigarette and utility lighters, household cots, multipurpose ladders and sunscreen. Goods that do not comply are prohibited imports and can be seized by NZ Customs.
Yes. New Zealand calculates customs value on an FOB basis, so international freight and insurance are excluded from the duty base.
As a planning range, about 18 to 28 days from Ningbo or Shanghai, depending on whether the service is direct or calls in Australia first. From India, allow about 30 to 45 days with transhipment.
Send one drawing, photo or quote. We return the process chain, the right clusters in India and China, and a landed-cost comparison for your market.