For all those thinking about kiting in Nz - here is a little warning from a kiwi living in Aust who just got back. My wetsuit and harness were confiscated and destroyed by NZ customs on arrival. I wasn't allowed my kite through but caused such a scene when customs said it was going to be destroyed that they confiscated it but allowed me to collect it when going back out of NZ. I havetravelled before and this has NEVER happened - and I was on a Kiwi passport. Unlucky...

ummmm,why?????????
never heard of that before.WTF

Hey Kate,

Great that you posted that on hear so people can heed the warning.
Couldn't believe it when you told me about today!!! I would've been so "Not happy".

Anyway luckly you could still go base jumping!! You crazy chick. C you next week.

x Angie Van hoof

No idea - the only reason I got from customs was that I couldn't prove that it hadn't been used in fresh water and they are tightening the rules on water sports and gear. Try taking in booties - it's impossible.

Thats just crazy. Did you declare the items when you came back in to NZ?

I came back from Brisbane in to Wellington this morning with my kite gear. Declared it all, told them exactly what was there. I thought they might have been a bit paranoid about it but they didn't even ask to see anything. Got straight through customs without a problem.

As long as you declared everything i can't see why there'd be a problem. If anything they might confiscate to clean it then return.

I'd be asking questions if i were you and if that fails can you claim insurance on the gear?

Good luck!

Okay, i've done some reading about this. By the sound of it as long as the gear is visibly clean AND dry AND declared when you arrive, you shouldn't have any issues.


I've been reading on this link:

http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/animals/standards/anieqpic.all.htm


This is the relevant part of it:


6.3 Used equipment associated with marine aquatic animals or marine water activities from any country may be given biosecurity clearance provided all of the following requirements are met:

i The equipment is visibly clean and visibly free from contamination with organic material such as algae, animal parts, blood, faeces, fatty tissues, flesh, fungal material, hair, plant parts, seeds, sediment, soil, weeds and biofouling or other marine organisms

AND

ii All parts of the equipment are completely dry on arrival to New Zealand

Note:

Used equipment associated with marine aquatic animals or marine water activities include aquaculture equipment, aquaria equipment, diving equipment, fishing equipment, surfing equipment, canoes, kayaks, boats, nets, traps, ropes, buoys, and pontoons.

This list is not exhaustive.

6.4 Used equipment associated with freshwater aquatic animals or freshwater activities from any country may be given biosecurity clearance provided all of the following requirements are met:

i. The equipment is visibly clean and visibly free from contamination with organic material such as algae, animal parts, blood, faeces, fatty tissues, feathers, flesh, fungal material, hair, plant parts, seeds, soil, weeds, wool and biofouling or other aquatic organisms

AND

ii. All parts of the equipment are completely dry on arrival to New Zealand

Note: Used equipment associated with freshwater aquatic animals or freshwater activities, containing absorbent material (such as nets, traps, ropes, leather, fabrics, cloth, neoprene, and other material that traps water when wetted) and non-absorbent material includes aquaria equipment, fishing and angling equipment and clothing, boating equipment, canoes, kayaks, boats, buoys, and pontoons.

This list is not exhaustive.


And then it says.....


PART C. CLEARANCE PROCEDURE
7 BIOSECURITY CLEARANCE AND DIRECTION

7.1 Upon arrival in New Zealand, the consignment must be inspected by an Inspector at the port of arrival.

7.2 Where an Inspector is not satisfied that the consignment meets all of the requirements stated in the Eligibility section of this import health standard, they must:

EITHER 7.2.1 Treat the consignment at the port of arrival with one or more of the specified treatments as outlined in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this import health standard

OR 7.2.2 Issue a biosecurity direction under section 25 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 authorising the consignment to be directed to an approved treatment facility where it is subject to one or more of the specified treatments as outlined in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this import health standard



Thats most of what seems to be relevant. Those are the regulations and i don't see anything in there about destroying items - from what i have read so far that is.


Hope this helps a little.

Kate,

here's your answer:

there's a massive problem with an algae type thing called "didymo" in fresh water rivers in nz.

one drop of water from a wetsuit, or fishing gear etc can turn a whole river into a slimy mess and destroy all the life in the river.
eg:


one drop and the river is ****, no sh!t.


there are a few rivers in the south that are ruined like this, and luckily it has not got into the north. with the huge trout fishing industry in nz, they are trying to keep it as contained as possible.

sorry for your loss.....
and thanks for the heads up - will be very careful taking gear home from now on...

Q: was any of your get wet / damp at all?

does didymo exist in australia?

Fair enough that they are concerned about it, but i still don't believe the gear should have been destroyed. From what it says the gear should have been "treated" then returend (which i assume would be at the cost of the person bringing the gear into the country) Was that mentioned by customs at all?

Please correct me if i've missed something in the regs.

What airport did you arrive at in NZ? I know at least 3 people who have returned from brisbane to wellington in the last week or 2 with kiting gear, and without any hassel that i've heard of.

good point - they should have 'treated' it. all the fishermen can get away with having their gear cleaned...

it's also known as rock snot

bad stuff clogs rivers.

make sure your watersports stuff is dry.....after you've freshly peed in it.
they sure aint gonna wanna confiscate it then.

Do you know what river has this rock snot or rivers,that sucks.I grew up in the south Is and all the rivers where always clean as,I hope this is just an isolated case.

Far out,dont that suck more destruction of the enviroment,better go enjoy the great barrier reef while ya can too

I take kites with me whenever I go back to the Shakey Isles and it often depends who the official is you're dealing with on the day. Usually they take my kites out and inspect them, however they soon realise that I clean everything fastidiously when I travel back across the ditch. I do this because I care as much about NZ's enviroment and industry as they do.

A tip from experience: You have to be painstakingly fussy when getting your foil kites ready to take back. Upon inspecting a snow kite I was trying to get in to NZ with they found a small seed in one of the cells. This caused some problems. The customs officer said it was quite common, especially with paragliders.

That sounds crazy....Where did you fly into? I fly between Wellington & the Gold Coast/Brisbane with my kiting gear around 4 times each year & I've never been subjected to any of that.

The offical name for te stuff in te photo is "Rock Snott". One of te problems with this stuff is that water from te streams is used for irrigation. This stuff blocks pumps and spray nozzles and irrigation fails. Because of te tight and close knit network of rivers and streams in NZ, runoff can transfer rock snot from 1 creek to another creek which can feed a completely different river, and so it goes until all the waterways in NZ are stuffed.
All though it would piss me off also to have my gear taken and burnt I can understand te reason is valid. You obviously got nabbed by a cutoms offical who had just viewed Sam Kickovich's new lamb adds.
Perhaps seabreeze can make a travel tips section and collect all this info to try and help kiters avoid making these mistakes.

Thankyou for bringing this info. to the forum. Im going to South island in a few weeks and will take heed of all this input. Need some local knowledge on some hot spots to kite in the South........that is as long as they let me through with my gear.
Thanks

Hey Kate and everyone, thanks for the heads up with this, I wonder if any of the girls that kite from over there have problems....I'll find out and let you know.

I'm off to the UK in 6 weeks so will make sure everything is clean and dry before going. Kate, definitely check out why they didn't just clean your stuff and return, out of order they were going to destroy it all.

Are they that strict coming into Australia?

Select to expand quote

JJTia said...

Need some local knowledge on some hot spots to kite in the South........
Thanks

Nelson - awesome spot.
Christchurch has some good spots too.

If I were you, I'd be going to, and staying in Nelson.