The coronavirus pandemic has affected almost all countries globally and has precipitated one of the worst global health disasters. International travel has been severely curtailed with most countries closing international borders in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus. With the worst of the pandemic behind us, many countries are cautiously opening borders, and international pet travel is gradually resuming.

New Zealand is currently at Alert Level 2, and there are temporary travel restrictions in place at the border. If you are travelling to New Zealand with your pet during the COVID-19 crisis, here’s what you need to know.

Arrival in New Zealand

The coronavirus pandemic has not changed the pet import regulations for pets entering New Zealand. Make sure your pet meets all import criteria, including vaccinations, documentation, health checks, etc. before entering the country. Under the current rules due to COVID-19, pets can arrive only in Auckland. Other cities such as Christchurch and Wellington are closed for pets until further notice.

When your pet arrives in Auckland, officials from the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) will examine your pet dog or cat for signs of illness, external parasites and other communicable diseases. Pets arriving from Australia do not need quarantine and can go home after the MPI examination, provided all documentation is in place. Pets travelling from other countries have mandatory quarantine for 10 to 60 days.

Collecting your pet in Auckland

All pets arriving in Auckland must clear MPI and Customs examinations before you can collect them. Due to COVID-19 social distancing regulations, the general public is not allowed to collect their pets after MPI checks.

MPI recommends an authorised pet travel agency to collect your pet on your behalf.  

Pet travel from Australia to New Zealand

Your pets can travel to Auckland on Qantas or Air New Zealand flights from Sydney and Melbourne. The Qantas Freighter QF 7523 arrives in Auckland at 3.10 am, and your pet cannot be collected until the Customs and MPI checks are cleared. Petraveller has partnered with an authorised pet travel agency, Qualified Pet Travel Services, to pick up your pet on arrival and bring them under quarantine to their facility in Takanini where the MPI vets will arrive later in the day for the checks. Your pet will be ready to go home by midday after the MPI examination.

Call the pet travel specialists

New Zealand’s strict and early response to the COVID-19 pandemic has meant that the country has successfully contained and eliminated the disease within its borders. The country has in place several regulations to prevent further cases, including mandatory 14 days of managed isolation or quarantine in an approved facility for all travellers.

International pet travel to New Zealand has always been complicated because of the country’s stringent biosecurity laws that are in place to protect the local flora and fauna from introduced and exotic diseases. Pet transport during a global pandemic is not always easy to arrange, especially when airlines are running at diminished capacities.

If you are planning to travel to New Zealand with your pet dog or cat, get in touch with the team at Petraveller for the latest updates and details on flights from Australia to New Zealand.