The permits needed for exporting CITES protected plant or animal items out of New Zealand will depend on:
To find out if your plant or animal is listed under CITES you will need to search the Species+ database using the scientific name of the species. Make sure you use the correct spelling otherwise you may not get an accurate result.
A scientific name has two parts – the genus and the species. In a well-known example T-rex, Tyrannosaurus is the genus and rex is the species.
Species covered by CITES are listed in three appendices, based on the level of protection they need.
Search the Species Plus website.
For Appendix I species, obtained after their protection under CITES, you will need to apply for an import permit from the country of import first, before applying for a NZ issued export or re-export permit.
For Appendix II or III species, obtained after their protection under CITES, you may only need to apply for a NZ issued export or re-export permit.
You should contact the overseas country of import to confirm their rules before submitting an application to us. Some countries have stricter CITES import requirements for certain items, or other domestic wildlife rules that may apply. Their contact details can be found at National CITES Authorities.
Some old items can have fewer permitting requirements. If they were made or obtained before the date they were included in the CITES Appendices, they are considered pre-Convention.
Information submitted in an application for a pre-Convention item must be sufficient to prove the approximate date a person first possessed the item. If you are unsure what the requirements are for your items, email us at cites@doc.govt.nz.
When you have your permit(s), make sure that you meet any special conditions listed. Be aware of any additional pages or related documents that must be presented with your permit.
Permit | Fee (NZD inc GST) |
---|---|
Regular import/export permit or certificate | $80 |
Permit authorising export of live parrots bred in captivity (export only) | $600 |
If you have any questions, contact DOC’s CITES team cites@doc.govt.nz.