Overview
Some personal taonga (cultural treasures) are made from animal parts, such as feathers, teeth and bone. Permits are required to stop the illegal cross-border movement of endangered, threatened or exploited species.
Learn more at Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
What you need to do
Before you travel
Before you travel, you will need to contact:
- Department of Conservation (DOC)
- Ministry for Culture and Heritage
- the CITES authority of the country you are going to.
They will need to know:
- what the item is, including what it’s made from
- how old the item is or the date you got it
- where you are going and if you will return with the item to New Zealand.
They will confirm if you need a permit and what to do.
We issue permits needed to travel with personal taonga and documentation confirming how and where it you received it.
Here are some of the permits and documentation you may need:
- CITES export and import permits - You may need these permits to leave and enter New Zealand with your taonga.
- CITES pre-Convention certificate - If you got your taonga before it was listed on CITES, you may qualify for a certificate that can sometimes be used instead of a permit.
- Sworn affidavit - You might need affidavits to show where and how you got your taonga. Whether you got it in New Zealand can affect whether you need a permit.
- Wildlife Act Authority to Export - You may require this if you plan to take animals, plants or their products. This includes taonga containing feathers, such as kākahu.
- Marine mammal permit - This is usually required to import or export marine mammals or marine mammal products.
If required, you must get a marine mammal permit and Wildlife Act Authority documentation before you apply for CITES documentation. See how long it takes to process an application
In New Zealand, the export of protected objects is regulated by the Protected Objects Act (1975).
To leave New Zealand with your taonga, you may require a Certificate of Permission from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
This will apply if:
- your item falls under one of 9 categories of protected New Zealand objects
- your item is an artwork, craft or taonga Māori, and is over 50 years old.
You won’t need a Certificate of Permission if your item is less than 50 years old.
If your item looks over 50 years old, request a letter from the Ministry confirming exemption of the item.
Contact the Protected Objects Team to check if you will need to apply for a certificate to travel with your personal taonga.
Some countries have strict permit requirements to travel with taonga items, such as whalebone.
Make sure you travel with the correct permits.
Before travelling, you will need to check the permitting requirements of the country you're travelling to. If you are travelling to many countries, you may need a permit for each country.
If items are seized internationally without the correct permits, the New Zealand Government is unlikely to be able to have them returned to you.
CITES national authorities can be contacted for further information. They can also ensure you have the right documentation for when you arrive at your destination.
During travel
When you have your documentation:
- carry it with the item
- show it to border officials when leaving or returning
- make a copy of your documentation for your records. Border officials will need to keep your originals.
When returning to New Zealand, declare the items on your arrival card under ‘animals and animal products’.
How long will my permit take?
Getting the right permits can take time. It is important to apply early.
CITES applications for export and import, and pre-Convention certificates are normally processed within 20 working days.
Contact
If you have any questions, contact DOC’s CITES team cites@doc.govt.nz.