Moving to New Zealand
Planning a move to New Zealand – to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton or Dunedin? Hartmann International has been organising overseas moves to the other side of the world since 1856: with a permanent, trained team, FAIM-certified standards, a worldwide partner network and complete customs and biosecurity handling from a single source.
Your move to New Zealand – everything from a single source
Whether it is an apartment in Auckland, a house on the South Island or an assignment to Wellington – we plan your move to New Zealand from the first consultation to furniture assembly at your destination. As a member of AMÖ, FIDI and move alliance we handle sea and air freight, secure packing, insurance and the customs and MPI clearance, all from a single source.
- International private removals – flat, house, full service
- Company and employee relocations worldwide
- Sea, air and road freight incl. container loading
- Customs clearance & export/import documents
- Part-load shipments & storage in our own facilities
- Moving boxes, packing material & furniture dis-/assembly
- Disposal of items you no longer need
- AMÖ-, FIDI- & FAIM-certified international standards
One-stop move
From packing to customs clearance – one dedicated contact for your move abroad.
International expertise
New Zealand is one of our most distant overseas destinations: we ship your household goods in our own container by sea to Auckland, Wellington or Lyttelton – and take care of customs and New Zealand’s strict biosecurity.
Your belongings in safe hands
Professional and sea-worthy packing and insured transport all the way to the destination.
Your move from Germany to New Zealand
From the first consultation to setting up your new home, we take care of everything: we plan your move, supply packing material and moving boxes, pack securely for sea transport, organise the shipping halfway around the globe and reassemble your furniture at the destination.
On request we handle the transport only or the complete full service – including part-load transport, storage in our own facilities and relocation service. That makes your move to New Zealand plannable and stress-free, despite the long distance and the special import requirements.
Transport routes to New Zealand
The main route to New Zealand is sea freight in a container: for a complete household, your own 20- or 40-foot container is the most economical solution. We pack securely for sea transport, load and organise the shipping over the long sea route to the New Zealand ports such as Auckland, Wellington or Lyttelton (Christchurch). Because of the distance, a transit time of several weeks should generally be expected here.
Air freight is ideal for urgent or smaller shipments – when important items need to be in New Zealand quickly, for example at the start of an assignment while the container is still on its way. We handle packing, documents and the whole process including biosecurity requirements.
There is no pure overland route for a move to the other side of the world – within New Zealand our partner network handles the onward transport from the port of arrival to your new address, whether to Hamilton on the North Island or Dunedin on the South Island. That way your goods reach you safely even away from the major ports.
Move stress-free with Hartmann International
Since 1856 we have accompanied you at every step – from the personal consultation through the binding fixed-price quote to furniture assembly at your destination. Your goods are covered by the statutory carrier liability; on request we arrange extended transport insurance at replacement value. Especially for the long sea route to New Zealand this is a sensible safeguard. We work with permanent, fairly paid staff and vetted partners on site.
With our relocation service we take the official paperwork off your hands – for job-related moves as well as for private customers. We support you with, among other things, your visa and residence permit, finding a home, your IRD tax number, bank account, insurance and connecting electricity and internet. That way you arrive in New Zealand relaxed from the very start.
Your international move in 5 steps
Enquiry
Free of charge by form, e-mail or phone.
Consultation & survey
We record volume, transport route and customs requirements.
Fixed-price quote
Transparent & in writing, incl. transport and customs.
Transport
Packing, loading and shipping by sea, air or road.
Delivery & assembly
Delivery, unpacking and furniture assembly at the destination.
Customs, biosecurity & documents for your move to New Zealand
New Zealand is not part of the EU: a customs declaration with a complete inventory list is required for every move, together with an Unaccompanied Personal Baggage declaration. If you are transferring your place of residence, you can usually import your used household goods free of duty and tax – we handle the process and tell you exactly which documents are needed, and which valid passport and appropriate visa you require.
New Zealand has one of the strictest biosecurity controls in the world (Ministry for Primary Industries, MPI): your household goods must be clean and free of soil, plant residue, seeds, pests and insects. Garden tools, shoes and camping or outdoor equipment in particular are inspected closely on import and cleaned where necessary. We prepare your goods accordingly and support you with the MPI requirements, so there are no delays on arrival.
What does a move to New Zealand cost?
The cost of a move to New Zealand depends mainly on the volume, the destination region (North or South Island), the transport route (sea freight in your own container, part load or air freight) and the services you choose. The effort for customs and biosecurity clearance (MPI) is added on top. A further lever is the part load: you share the container and pay only your portion.
Flat-rate guide prices are of little value for overseas moves over such a distance. After a short assessment – by phone, video or on site – you therefore receive a binding fixed-price quote with no hidden costs, including transport, packing and customs and biosecurity handling.
Calculate your moving costs online
Use our online moving calculator to get a non-binding first estimate for your international move in just a few minutes – volume, distance and services step by step.
Prefer a personal touch? Request a free quote ›
Good to know about your international move
Container sizes
A 20-foot container holds about 30 m³ (roughly a 2–3-room flat), a 40-foot container about 60 m³ (a whole house).
Part-loads save money
With a part-load you share the cargo space with other shipments and pay only your share – ideal for smaller volumes and some flexibility on timing.
Plan ahead
Plan your move ideally 2–3 months in advance, or 3–6 months for overseas – for customs applications and sailing/flight schedules.
Insurance
Every transport is covered by carrier liability; for international moves we recommend extended transport insurance at replacement value.
Import restrictions
Not everything may be imported – certain foods, plants, medicines or weapons are restricted. We tell you in advance what can go on the inventory list.
Pets & vehicles
Cars, motorcycles and pets can come along too – pet transport is handled by specialised partners; we tell you which documents are required.
Tip: our moving checklist helps with planning. Transit times depend on destination and transport route – mainland Europe usually a few days, overseas several weeks; we state the exact timeframe in your quote.
Our reference projects
Real international moves, real results – a selection of our international and overseas projects.
Move from New York to Mainz – full service with a Harley-Davidson
Mehr erfahren ›
Move from New York to Mainz – full service with a Harley-Davidson
Move from China to Herzebrock-Clarholz
Mehr erfahren ›
Your personal contact for international moves
International moving team · Hartmann International
From the first enquiry to your arrival in New Zealand you have a dedicated contact – no call centre. We advise you personally on sea freight, customs, New Zealand biosecurity (MPI), visa and scheduling, and coordinate everything from a single source.
Move well prepared – with our checklist
Keep every step in view: our free moving checklist guides you from planning to move-in through all the key to-dos – deadlines, re-registration, no-parking zones and packing.
Request your free quote now
Ready for your move to New Zealand? We will get back to you promptly with a fair fixed-price quote including customs and biosecurity handling – by phone on +49 5251 87500-0 or directly via our form.
Frequently asked questions
What does a move to New Zealand cost?
It depends on the volume, destination region (North or South Island), the transport route (sea-freight container, part load or air freight) and the services you choose; customs and biosecurity clearance (MPI) are added on top. After a short assessment you receive a binding fixed-price quote with no hidden costs. A part load can save you even more.
How does transport to New Zealand work – sea or air freight?
The main route is sea freight in a container: for a complete household your own 20- or 40-foot container is the most economical solution, shipped over the long sea route to the ports of Auckland, Wellington or Lyttelton. Urgent or smaller shipments go by air freight. We pack securely for sea transport and deliver to your door.
How long does a move to New Zealand take?
Because of the long distance, a transit time of several weeks should generally be expected for sea freight – depending on the departure port, route and destination port. Add to that customs and MPI clearance and the onward transport to your address. Air freight is considerably faster. We state the exact timeframe in your binding quote.
Are there customs duties for a move to New Zealand?
New Zealand is not part of the EU, so a customs declaration with an inventory list and an Unaccompanied Personal Baggage declaration is required. If you are transferring your residence, however, you can usually import your used household goods free of duty and tax. We handle the whole process.
What is the deal with biosecurity in New Zealand?
New Zealand has one of the strictest biosecurity controls in the world (Ministry for Primary Industries, MPI). Your household goods must be clean and free of soil, plant residue, seeds, pests and insects. Garden tools, shoes and camping or outdoor equipment in particular are inspected and cleaned where necessary. We prepare your goods accordingly.
What documents do I need for a move to New Zealand?
For the duty-free import of household goods you need a complete inventory list and an Unaccompanied Personal Baggage declaration. For entry you need a valid passport and an appropriate visa. We support you with the customs and biosecurity documents.
Do I need a visa for New Zealand?
Yes. For a longer or permanent stay in New Zealand you need an appropriate visa and a valid passport. We organise the move itself; with our relocation service we additionally support you with official matters such as your IRD tax number, bank account and registration.
Can I also transport my household goods to New Zealand as a part load?
Yes. With a part load you share the container with other shipments and pay only your portion – the most economical option if you are flexible on timing. We handle customs and MPI clearance here too.
Are my belongings insured on the way to New Zealand?
Yes. Every transport is covered by the statutory carrier liability. For the long sea route to New Zealand in particular we recommend extended transport insurance at replacement value, which we arrange on request.
Do you move to both islands and all regions of New Zealand?
Yes. We organise moves to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton and Dunedin as well as to all other regions on the North and South Island. From the port of arrival our partner network handles the onward transport to your new address.
What our customers say
„Excellent guidance and support with the move to Great Britain.”
„The staff were absolutely outstanding. An absolute recommendation!”
„I can wholeheartedly recommend Hartmann International to anyone who needs a removal company.”
„Great team, excellent move! Very reliable, friendly and professional.”
„The staff handled our household goods carefully and professionally.”
„After our practice relocated a year ago and that went excellently too, I have now also moved privately with Hartmann.”
Hartmann International is rated 4.86 out of 5 stars from 297 reviews on ProvenExpert.
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