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New Zealand recorded 155,800 migrant arrivals in 2024, and Australia remained the top destination for New Zealand citizens leaving the country, according to Stats NZ. Anyone preparing for a move from Australia to New Zealand needs to coordinate entry requirements, household shipping, biosecurity checks and financial setup before departure
This guide covers the visa and documentation requirements, how to choose between sea and air freight, New Zealand's biosecurity rules for your belongings, and the financial steps to complete before you arrive.
Request a sea or air freight quote to New Zealand through Couriers & Freight.
Get a Quote NowWhen you're ready to ship internationally, compare sea and air freight through Couriers & Freight.
Before you relocate to New Zealand from Australia, confirm the entry requirements that apply to your residency status. Australian citizens can live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, provided they meet standard entry requirements on arrival.
Australian permanent residents can normally receive an Australian Resident Visa on arrival, but they generally need an NZeTA before travelling to New Zealand.
Check your eligibility early. It's harder to adjust once your household goods are already in transit.
Deciding what to ship is one of the biggest choices when you prepare for an international move to New Zealand from Australia. Weigh the replacement cost of furniture and household goods against what it costs to ship them, since shipment size and how quickly you need your belongings drive both freight cost and delivery timeframe.
The table below compares Full Container Load (FCL) and Less Than Container Load (LCL) sea freight against air freight.
If you're relocating an entire household, sea freight is usually the more economical choice, since the cost is based on the container space your shipment occupies. If you're flying ahead with only a few essentials, air freight can justify the higher cost for the time you save.
Freight rates shift with market conditions and vary by shipment volume, origin, and destination, so compare current quotes before booking to get an accurate estimate.
If you decide that sea freight best matches your move, you can compare options through Couriers & Freight's sea freight service to New Zealand. If speed is the priority, air freight to New Zealand lets you compare suitable options before booking.
New Zealand's biosecurity rules apply to all personal effects entering the country. Before packing, remove all soil, plant material, and organic matter from outdoor equipment to reduce the risk of inspection delays or cleaning charges.
Sort this out before you pack, not after, if you prepare for an international move to New Zealand from Australia.
Preparing your finances before relocating can make settling into New Zealand easier.
Many people prepare for an international move to New Zealand from Australia while organising employment, accommodation, and financial arrangements at the same time. After arriving, apply for an Inland Revenue (IRD) number so you can work, pay tax, and access government services.
If you have Australian superannuation, you may be able to transfer eligible savings to a participating KiwiSaver scheme under the Trans-Tasman Retirement Savings Portability arrangement.
Your Australian fund must be APRA-regulated, and you'll need to transfer the whole balance. Both schemes must also agree to participate. A New Zealand IRD number is required to complete the transfer. This information is general in nature and should not be treated as personal tax advice.
Comparing freight options gets easier once you prepare for an international move to New Zealand from Australia and know what you're shipping.
Couriers & Freight shows quotes from multiple carriers together, so you can compare estimated transit times and shipment costs before contacting a provider directly. Say you're relocating a partial household load. You can weigh a shared sea freight container against an air freight service and see which fits your budget and timeframe.
Compare sea and air freight quotes to New Zealand and book through Couriers & Freight.
Request a sea or air freight quote to New Zealand through Couriers & Freight.
Get a Quote Now
MHP
No Surcharge*
$16.50
$14
$15.50
$0
$15.50
$14.75
$0
$0
$0
$0
MHP Large Item
No Surcharge*
$16.50
$75
$62
$62
$60.10
$14.75
$0
$0
$0
$0
Residential Pickup
No Surcharge*
$6
$0
$9
--
$9
$10.60
$0
$0
$0
$38.50
Reidential pick up 30-99kgs
No Surcharge*
$63
$0
$9
$0
$9
$74.15
$20
Won't carry
Won't carry
$38.50
Residential pick up 100kgs+
No Surcharge*
$198
$0
$9
$0
$9
$158.87
$50
Won't carry
Won't carry
$38.50
Residential Delivery up to 29kgs
No Surcharge*
$6
$0
$9
--
$9.00
$10.60
$0
$0
$0
$38.50
Residential Delivery up 30-99kgs
No Surcharge*
$63
$0
$9
$0
$9
$74.15
$20
Won't carry
Won't carry
$38.50
Residential Delivery 100kgs+
No Surcharge*
$198
$0
$9
--
$9
$158.57
$50
Won't carry
Won't carry
$38.50
Tail Lift Pick up 50-99kgs Sydney / Melbourne
No Surcharge*
$45
$50-$250
$88
$88
$88
$44.07
$120
Won't carry
Won't carry
$61.50
Tail Lift Pick up 100-299kgs Sydney / Melbourne
No Surcharge*
$85
$50-$250
$88
$88
$88
$44.07
$120
Won't carry
Won't carry
$61.50
Tail Lift Pick up 300-499kgs Sydney / Melbourne
No Surcharge*
$120
$50-$250
$88
$88
$88
$44.07
$120
Won't carry
Won't carry
$61.50
Tail Lift Pick up 500kgs + Sydney / Melbourne
No Surcharge*
$250
$50-$250
$88
$88
$88
$44.07
$120
Won't carry
Won't carry
$61.50
Tail Lift Delivery 50-99kgs Sydney / Melbourne
No Surcharge*
$45
$50-$250
$88
$88
$88
$44.07
$120
Won't carry
Won't carry
$61.50
Tail Lift Delivery 100-299kgs Sydney / Melbourne
No Surcharge*
$85
$50-$250
$88
$88
$88
$44.07
$120
Won't carry
Won't carry
$61.50
Tail Lift Delivery300-499kgs Sydney / Melbourne
No Surcharge*
$120
$50-$250
$88
$88
$88
$44.07
$120
Won't carry
Won't carry
$61.50
Tail Lift Delivery 500kgs + Sydney / Melbourne
No Surcharge*
$250
$50-$250
$88
$88
$88
$44.07
$120
Won't carry
Won't carry
$61.50
Dead weight over 32KGS carton freight
No Surcharge*
$16.50
$75
$70
$70
$70
$14.75
$0
Won't carry
Won't carry
$0
Oversize Surcharge 1.20 - 1.54
No Surcharge*
--
$0
$0
$0
$0
$5.40
$10
$15
Won't carry
$0
Oversize Surcharge 1.55 - 1.85
No Surcharge*
$17
$20
$0
$0
$0
$11.93
$10
$15
Won't carry
$0
Oversize Surcharge 1.86 - 2.20
No Surcharge*
$37
$40
$0
$0
$0
$11.93
$10
Won't carry
Won't carry
$0
Pallet Surcharge
No Surcharge*
--
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Won't carry
Won't carry
$0
Hand Unload Fee Carton
No Surcharge*
--
$0
$70
$70
$70
$47
$0
Won't carry
Won't carry
$61.50
Western Australia Regional Surcharge
No Surcharge*
%10
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
*Surcharges may apply to areas/deimensions not listed
**Prices correct of 16th September 2024
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