MAF costs
 

Hello fellow expatters :wave:

Our 20' container has arrived and has been scanned. There are 23 items (including christmas decorations and fishing gear.) listed for quarantine whatever that means..assume it means bio security check.

Anyone have any idea what it is likely to cost? The stuff is all pretty clean and tidy. We used PSS/NZ Van lines and the price said it included Customs Clearance, haulage of container and unloading but not Biosecurity.

Re: MAF costs
 

Hi Munchkjn, hope you're settling into Wellington okay. :)

A friend's just had her 40 ft container checked by MAF and was charged $30 for some pinecones. Fingers crossed yours will be fine too!

We also went with PSS, due to arrive 7 Nov. Can't wait!

Re: MAF costs
 

Hi Maquis,

$40 doesn't sound too bad. I was expecting 10x.
We are in Wellington alright, the wind and baltic temperatures are telling me that. My mind is playing tricks on me thinking winter is coming as it's actually colder now than when we arrived in August. Not sure about settling though, we've been on borrowed air beds and eating on a camping table for 5 weeks now. We had a furnished house for the first 4 weeks but that seems like a lifetime ago now.

PSS took our furniture away 11 weeks ago in UK, it arrived 2.5 weeks ago in Wellington and we are hoping it will be delivered the week after next. Seems a bit excessive to me, but there we go. Especially as NZ is full of mice, rats, possums and blackbirds already! We just want our beds mainly. Back's killing me...

Ah, the whinging pom. :eek:

Re: MAF costs
 

sorry to say that it will all depend on the person doing the inspection.

We had bikes and a tent pulled out for inspection, which was done whilst the movers were delivering us our container. The bikes he had a quick look at and he saw I had used the preferred cleaning fluid and the tent he just looked at how it was packed, I told we had only used it once - which we had - and he just said ok and then left, and that was that.

But then I have heard that people have had cobwebs found on a car, from being in the container, and had to pay for it to be cleaned.

Re: MAF costs
 

why the hell has it been sitting in Welly for the last 2.5 weeks? Ours came to us in under a week. except for the car

Re: MAF costs
 

I have no flipping idea! I have been chasing them but keep getting fobbed off. I think there must be a backlog of MAFFing. We are so over indoor camping and fast becoming alcoholics!! Thank goodness for decent Pinot Gris :nod:

Re: MAF costs
 

Yes, alcohol a basic necessity at the moment! Rude awakening today with that icy blast.

We're lucky we have some stuff from storage, but kids on borrowed mattresses and it feels very much like we're camping. We're also on a mattress because we haven't found the bolts for our bed yet!! :D Discovered our ancient (1980s) 14" telly works fine with cable, yay. Also discovered we stored a lot of crap.

Re: MAF costs
 

Chasing who. White Van Lines? I doubt there is a MAF backlog.
Where exactly is your container right now.

What is the fob off line ?

Re: MAF costs
 

That is a long time to wait for clearance :(

Re: MAF costs
 

Its supposedly at the port somewhere. NzVL say it usually takes 8-12 working days to clear. Ours has been 12 working days today and weve still got next week. They have just advised that MAF have scanned it and its on a waiting list for quarantine. Nothing I can do I was told.

Re: MAF costs
 

Wasn't it just! Been wearing my beanie hat, jumper and coat all week. It really feels as if im in England.

Nice to know we are not alone! Good luck with your container. Have a great long weekend

Re: MAF costs
 

Nope, not alone! :D There seem to be quite a lot of us arriving at the mo. At the kids' school there have been several families joining in the last month, has made it a bit easier I think.

Re: MAF costs
 

"Only" $380....

That's the cheap wine for us for a fortnight then.

Re: MAF costs
 

*ouch*

Could have been worse....?

Re: MAF costs
 

Not particularly impressed with NZ Van Lines. Not very forthcoming and very difficult to contact. PSS were decent at the UK end but then we dealt with them and paid for everything through them. NZVL not interested in the slightest, feel very low down their list of priorities only contacted me when they wanted paying. Wouldn't use them on the way back.