New Zealand Customs

You can certainly bring in the beef jerky in to NZ, as private consignments of beef can be brought into NZ from the US, Canada, Aust and the EU if it is commercially prepared and packaged, within original seal, country of origin is identifiable on the packaging and is less than 20kg.

Granola bars and coca powder are also OK as long as they are in the orginal commercial packaging.

Do declare it when you arrive and you will be able to keep it. The instant fines issued are for a false declarations, you will not get fined if you declare you have food even if it is a risk product. People can get fined even if they have non-risk food but do not declare it i.e. false declaration.

Hmmm... what about food products brought in from Australia?

Say, timtams... tea (lipton green tea bas)... nutella, peanut butter, jam? Obviously I'm going to try to finish off all the food I've got here now before I head to NZ and then back home to the States..

To #10 - can you give us the source - I would be very surprised meat products were allowed in from the EU or any country with CJD. TMTH is talking nonsense - what is wrong with tea & tim tams? NZ & Aust are trying to protect an agricultural economy - meat, fruit, honey, wood etc. Processed food IS NOT A PROBLEM - but why bother bringing in regular stuff like jam, granola bars etc.

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<hr>To #10 - can you give us the source - I would be very surprised meat products were allowed in from the EU or any country with CJD. TMTH is talking nonsense<hr></blockquote>
Quite, I didn't want to come steaming in like a newbie, but I think tmth is giving incredibly bad advice - the link I posted and quoted directly from the NZ gov quite clearly says "Food should not be brought into New Zealand". ALL food.
Unless, of course, TravelinJo (the OP) is setting up an import business. But if not, I have no idea on earth why someone would want to bring crap like beef jerky into a place with such excellent food as New Zealand!

There are a few exceptions listed here in the MAF FAQs

Jam - yes
Honey - no
christmas cake - yes
processed popcorn - yes
popping corn - no

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<hr>Why is meat not allowed?<hr></blockquote>
Now I'm no expert, but they say that Foot & Mouth could have been caused by something as insignificant as a cooked meat sandwich, so I too would be surprised if they allowed meat in at all, and I guess jerky is still meat so the above quote seems far reaching.

I've seldom seen the need to take my food with me when I go on holiday - it doesn't take much preparation to reduce your stock before going on holiday and I'm sure the Kiwis eat food as well, so there's likely to be some in the shops. Saying that, I did go on holidy with some Germans to Iceland once and they had brought "enough food for every meal except one" - and that included potatoes and flour! They wanted to eat in a restaurant one night

You can buy jerky in NZ, but it's the South African kind, made in NZ and called biltong. It's available packaged in larger supermarkets, outdoor shops and also at some butchers shops.

Instead of taking a tin of cocoa powder, buy Cadbury's in NZ. And visit the Cadbury Factory in Dunedin, the chocaholic's paradise.

cadbury's schmadbury's: go for whittaker's!! either way, buy it in NZ.

Yes you certainly can import meat from the EU in private consignments. Check out This, it details what meats you can bring into NZ. Below is a copy of the requirements regarding beef products.

7.3 Private consignments of beef meat and meat products originating from Australia, Canada, the European Community, the United States of America and Vanuatu may be given biosecurity clearance provided all the following requirements are met:

i. The product is commercially prepared and packaged

ii. The product is in its original sealed packaging on arrival

iii. The country of origin is identifiable from the packaging

iv. The total weight of the consignment is 20 kilograms or less.

Wow - I don't think I've ever gotten so much response from a post before! I have figured out that as long as it's "shelf-stable" (meaning does not need to be refridgerated before or after opening) as well as the reasons listed on the last post, we're fine. As to the reason I want to bring it with me, I am more than happy to explore the culinary delights in NZ. So while I am feasting on meat pies, white bait and green mussels, my boyfriend will be knawing on beef jerkey from the good ol' USA... Plus he works at a nut company so much of this stuff is free to us.

Thanks for all the advice!