Thread: Bringing in Taxidermy from Overseas

Hey folks, anyone have any experience doing this? Family and I are moving to NZ in August, I'd like to bring a couple pieces with me into the country from the US - shoulder mounts, processed skins. I've done some reading via Animal Imports and Target Evaluator Cargo, but if anyone has the skinny on a step-by-step process I'd really appreciate some guidance.

Cheers,
Blake

Hi Blake
Contact NZ Customs and MPI Biosecurity. You are basically importing animal products not for human consumption.
When I brought back a shoulder mount and a skull last they were only interested in 2 things. Biosecurity risk to NZ Agriculture and if its a protected species. I had the trophies on the same flight with me so I let customs know what date and flight I will come in on just to speed things up. The trophies been done professionally and gave them a good clean again before preparing them for transport. Biosecurity took everything for inspection which was done in 20 minutes.
I had a whole bunch of paper work from country of origin they took a copy but needed it mainly for customs when I was leaving EU with dead animal parts in a box. I had declaration from Conservation Dept saying it wasn't a protected species, one from state Vet saying that the animals were disease free, and one from Wildlife management stating that they had been legally harvested. So check what do you need on your end to export animal products.

Cheers BF

Have a chat with Geoff, he is a NZ based clearning agent, he handled a few of my shipments and is great to deal with: geoffolsen@godonz.co.nz
The other option is to chat with a taxidermist in the US and get him to box it and ship it - with the appropriate paperwork.

if it is only a few pieces and you don't want to go through the hassle of shipping it, then fly it as excess luggage and just declare it on arrival
Customs will inspect it and send it for Biosecurity fumigation & treatment if required - last time I paid $60 and waited 2 weeks to get my stink heads back :-)