The average cost of shipping a container from the UK to New Zealand is £5,750. This is based on the cost of a 40ft shipping container. This is equal to the contents of a 3-bedroom house. The average air freight cost is £437. This figure has been taken from our international removal cost research.
There are 2 shipping options for New Zealand - sea and air freight. The option you choose will depend on your budget and the number of items you’re shipping.
Sea Freight
Sea freight is the most common shipping option to consider when relocating to New Zealand. Ocean freight can take longer for goods to arrive, in comparison to air freight which can be a problem if you need your items quickly. While shipping rates vary, it’s more value for the money if you’re on a stricter budget.
Pros:
Pay for the size of the container rather than the weight
Ability to transport motor vehicles
Better for the environment
While shipping rates vary it’s more cost-effective
Part-load services are available
Cons:
Longer transit times
Delays are more likely
Fewer shipments to New Zealand compared to air freight
Main New Zealand Ports and Routes
There are 5 major ports in New Zealand. The biggest port is The Port of Tauranga. A third of the cargo that the country receives comes through this port. Other ports include:
Port of Auckland
Port of Wellington
Napier Port
Lyttelton Port
The main port in the UK that ships to New Zealand is Southampton.
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Air Freight
Air freight is the best option if you want goods to arrive quickly. However, it is more expensive and you are limited with what you can ship. Your goods will be shipped from a UK airport to the most convenient airport in New Zealand.
Pros:
5 international airports to consider
Quickest shipping option
Ability to track your goods during transit
Regular flight schedules
Cons:
More expensive than sea freight
Goods are charged based on weight
Limitations on what you can ship (no motor vehicles)
Less eco-friendly
Main New Zealand Airports and Routes
There are 5 international airports in New Zealand, making it a convenient option to consider. These airports are:
Auckland
Christchurch
Wellington
Queenstown
Dunedin
The main UK airports that ship goods to New Zealand are London Heathrow, Manchester, and Birmingham. Due to its distance from the UK, your goods will be subject to a stopover. The most common places include Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo.
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FCL VS LCL Shipping
You will need to decide whether you want to use full or part load when using sea and air freight. This will depend on the number of goods you want to move. Some factors that will affect your choice include:
Distance travelled
Insurance
The weight of your items
The size of your items
Duties and customs charges
Tracking
The number of items being shipped
Here are the differences between FCL and LCL shipping:
Full Container Load (FCL)
Full container load is the most popular choice when shipping furniture overseas. Paying for a full container load provides you access to use the entire shipping container. As it’s being shipped to you directly, there are fewer chances of delays.
Less Container Load (LCL)
If you’re moving a smaller number of goods, less container load is a helpful option to consider. It allows you to share a container with other movers.
This helps to reduce your overall costs but does limit the amount of space you can have. As LCL shipping is shared, goods typically take longer to arrive.
Other Costs to Consider
When considering the shipping cost to New Zealand, there are several additional costs to consider. These include:
Packing Services
Packing services cost £250 on average. This figure is based on the contents of a 3-bedroom house. These costs will vary depending on the number of items you have and the removal company used.
Packing services are charged additionally, and the team of packers will pack all your items for you. High-quality packing materials are used which help to protect your goods during transit.
Pick-up and Delivery
Pick-up and delivery ensures your goods are picked up and delivered from the port or airport. It takes away the stress of having to organise this yourself. The cost will vary based on the distance the company needs to travel and the country.
Insurance
On average, insurance is 4% of the total cost of the household goods you have shipped. This is why the costs can vary significantly. However, the costs can alter depending on the company you have chosen and the policy you’re considering.
An insurance policy will vary depending on the company you choose, how your items are shipped and the distance travelled. The number of items shipped will also be factored into the cost of the insurance.
All our international removal partners are covered by Public Liability and Goods in Transit insurance. This ensures you are covered should anything go wrong during the removal process.
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How Long Does Shipping Take?
Sea freight to New Zealand will take around 56 days on average to arrive if there are no issues with delays or customs clearance. Air freight takes roughly 7-10 days.
The amount of time shipping takes will vary. If you’re looking to ship LCL you will need to factor in the extra time this takes.
Prohibited Items to New Zealand
There are a handful of items you’re prohibited from shipping into New Zealand. These include:
Weapons
Equipment for smoking or taking drugs
Firearms
Objectionable material
Controlled drugs
The New Zealand Customs Service website provides a detailed breakdown of the type of goods to avoid packing.
Finding an International Removal Company to New Zealand
When moving to New Zealand from the UK, you’ll want to ensure you are using a reliable and verified international removals company. All our partners are trusted and verified. Our service can place you in contact with up to 6 different companies. We can also save you up to 70% off your removal costs.
