Legislation used by Customs
A list of legislation that is used here at Customs.
The New Zealand Legislation website provides free public access to up-to-date versions of New Zealand Acts, Bills (proposed Acts), and Legislative Instruments. The following Customs-related legislation can be easily accessed online.
Principal legislation
Used by New Zealand Customs Service to take actions for border management and protection purposes.
- Animal Products Act 1999
- Animal Welfare Act 1999
- Anti-money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009
- Anti-Personnel Mines Prohibition Act 1998
- Arms Act 1983
- Biosecurity Act 1993
- Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act 1996
- Civil Aviation Act 1990
- Climate Change Response Act 2002
- Cluster Munitions Prohibition Act 2009
- Commerce Act 1986
- Companies Act 1993
- Conservation Act 1987
- Consular Privileges and Immunities Act 1971
- Copyright Act 1994
- Crimes Act 1961
- Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009
- Customs and Excise Act 1996
- Customs and Excise Act 2018
- Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001
- Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act 1968
- Dog Control Act 1996
- Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act 1988
- Evidence Act 2006
- Fair Trading Act 1986
- Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993
- Fisheries Act 1996
- Food Act 2014
- Goods and Services Tax Act 1985
- Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
- Health Act 1956
- Heavy Engineering Research Levy Act 1978
- Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2004
- Immigration Act 2009
- Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Act 1988
- International Finance Agreements Act 1961
- Kiwifruit Industry Restructuring Act 1999
- Land Transport Act 1998
- Major Events Management Act 2007
- Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978
- Maritime Security Act 2004
- Maritime Transport Act 1994
- Meat Board Act 2004
- Medicines Act 1981
- Mercantile Law Act 1908
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1975
- Motor Vehicles Sales Act 2003
- New Zealand Horticultural Export Authority Act 1987
- Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 (Children's and Young People's Well Being Act 1989)
- Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996
- Passports Act 1992
- Postal Services Act 1998
- Protected Objects Act 1975
- Psychoactive Substances Act 2013
- Radiation Safety Act 2016
- Search and Surveillance Act 2012
- Smoke-free Environments Act 1990
- Statistics Act 1975
- Summary Proceedings Act 1957
- Tariff Act 1988
- Temporary Safeguard Authorities Act 1987
- Terrorism Suppression Act 2002
- Trade (Anti-dumping and Countervailing Duties) Act 1988
- Trade in Endangered Species Act 1989
- Trade Marks Act 2002
- United Nations Act 1946
- Waste Minimisation Act 2008
- Wildlife Act 1953
- Wine Act 2003.
Other relevant border protection legislation
New Zealand Customs Service assists other agencies to enforce this legislation.
- Aviation Crimes Act 1972
- Biosecurity Act 1993
- Civil Aviation Act 1990
- Cook Islands Act 1915
- Fisheries Act 1996
- Health Act 1956
- International Finance Agreements Act 1961
- Niue Act 1966
- Ship Registration Act 1992.
Legislation applicable to New Zealand Customs Service as a public sector agency
- New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990
- Official Information Act 1982
- Ombudsmen Act 1975
- Privacy Act 2020
- Public Finance Act 1989
- State Sector Act 1988.