j19fmm

...my father has asked if I can take a 20 year old bottle of whisky out to his brother in NZ. Can I?
He also wants to apply for a Residency Visa using his brother who is a citizen. All lovely but my father is 79 next month and my Uncle is 83. Would he be allowed?
Thanks people, any thoughts much appreciated x

MrsFychan

found this on the custom site:

On entering New Zealand you are entitled to bring in the following quantities of alcohol products free of Customs duty, provided that you are over 17 years of age* and that the goods:

Accompany you through the Customs arrival process.
Are for your own personal use, or intended as gifts.
Are not carried on behalf of another person.
Are not intended for sale or exchange.

If the above is applicable the following amounts are allowed duty free:

4.5 litres of wine or 4.5 litres of beer.
Three bottles (or other containers) each containing not more than 1,125ml of spirits, liqueur, or other spirituous beverages.

Any amounts over the above will be liable for Customs duty and goods and services tax (GST). This includes bottles which are of greater volumes than the one described.

http://www.customs.govt.nz/features/...s/default.aspx

as for Residency question I would call Immigration office and ask what are the chances.

j19fmm

Thanks Mrs F. The thing is the whisky would come from home, not bought at duty free shop. It's some special bottle he's got.

MrsFychan

then it would be classed as a gift (?), couldn't find anything that covered alcohol as a gift. Does seem strange. maybe give Customs a call and ask. Can't see it being a problem you can bring alcohol in so why not some rather vintage grog.

j19fmm

What's bothering me is that they don't let you through with more than 100ml of liquid these days, even flipping water! Would be awful to have it taken off me!

chippy64

You would need to put it into your checked baggage - plenty of bubble wrap/corrugated card etc. If you take it as hand baggage, they will def take it from you!

j19fmm

I'll have other things like lollies and gravy powder that I plan to declare on arrival, so would have to declare booze too. Of course if it breaks I'll get a chilly reception at my uncles!!!

MrsFychan

no would put in checked luggage nicely wrapped.

Declare everything on the forms on the way through, my hubby declared the same thing under 2 categories as marmite seemed to cover both, when they queried both categories and got marmite for the answer to both they just laughed and waved him through.

nukiwi

Definitely put it in your checked luggage. If you try to carry it on in your hand luggage, they WILL take it off you. It has to go in your suitcase.

Persephone

I've carried bottles of wine in my checked bag a few times and never had one break, it's the only way you can take it over. I wrap newspaper round it then place it in a polythene bag, tape it up really tightly and then pack clothes round it [and hope I've done a good enough job so that if it does break all my clothes don't stink of red wine when I arrive]. Been lucky so far!

Not sure about your father's situation. It looks like he may be too old for the sibling category http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...ld/default.htm I don't know enough to know whether there's any other way.

j19fmm

Thanks P x I'll give it a go, if it smashes I'll let him pick up the bill.
He's having a dinner where High Commissioner is guest so will try to get some more answers.

j19fmm

I always declare everything, find you get through quicker on the Declare channel, last time they just put case through xray and we were on our way, meanwhile those in the nothing to Declare channel were being thoroughly searched

Genesis

If the tax has already been paid on it (even in the UK) and you are allowed to bring 3 bottles of spirits into the country I can't see any issue. You cannot be taxed twice!!

Bo-Jangles

We've had a few old folks (100+) make the news as recent immigrants. An old guy a while back was 102 and a lady more recently. I think there may have been extenuating circumstances, last remaining family or something. I'll try find the news articles.

Bo-Jangles

Here's one:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10768947

New Zealand's oldest immigrant has settled in and is looking forward to her upcoming 103rd birthday, says her son-in-law.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10774912

And the other

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10492455