Aircraft and Airports

All aircraft arriving to New Zealand must arrive at an approved Place of First Arrival unless authorized to do otherwise.

Airports approved as a place of first arrival have MAF approved arrangements, facilities and systems for the clearance of passengers, crew, their baggage, risk goods and destruction of aircraft waste. Certain approved airports have facilities in place to receive commercial cargo. Commercial cargo (including pets) may only permitted to be landed at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch international airports.

The person in charge (Captain) of an aircraft, that is not a commercial scheduled flight, must notify the MAF inspector at the airport as to when it is intending to arrive.

The minimum requirements for aircraft and airports undertaking international travel are set out in the standard titled Requirements for Places of First Arrival (Airports).

Airports currently approved as a place of first arrival are:

  • Kerikeri Airport (restricted to a maximum of 12 pax and crew)
  • Auckland International Airport *
  • Hamilton International Airport
  • Rotorua International Airport
  • Hawkes Bay Airport (restricted to a maximum of 15 pax and crew)
  • Palmerston North International Airport
  • Wellington International Airport *
  • Nelson Airport (restricted to a maximum of 12 pax and crew)
  • Christchurch International Airport *
  • Dunedin International Airport
  • Queenstown International Airport
  • Invercargill International Airport
  • Whenuapai Air Force Base (Military)
  • Ohakea Air Force Base (Military)

* Airports approved to receive commercial cargo (including pets)

Arrival to an airport not approved as a Place of First Arrival

If you plan to land an international flight at an airport not listed as a Place of First Arrival permission must be sought and approved by the Director-General of MAF or a delegate prior to the arrival, contact for application. Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Approval may also be required by other government agencies such as NZ Customs (offsite link to www.customs.govt.nz) and MOH.

Information for Travellers arriving by air is available in the Entering New Zealand, Aircraft and also the Entering New Zealand, Personal Travellers section of our site.

Disinsection of aircraft

MAF and the Ministry of Health require aircraft to be "disinsected" for invertebrates that may be pests or vectors of animal, plant or human disease. Surveys have conclusively shown that international aircraft present a pathway for hitch-hiking invertebrates.

Australia and New Zealand have a joint procedure (offsite link to www.daff.gov.au) for the disinsection of aircraft arriving from overseas.

Refuse disposal

Several operational standards have been developed relating to the disposal or sterilisation of refuse from aircraft.

Page last updated: 1 September 2008

Relevant Resources