New Zealand enforces strict biosecurity regulations across various products, including plants, animal products, biologicals, and food imports.  U.S. exporters should coordinate with New Zealand partners before shipping to ensure compliance with local import standards.

Due to New Zealand’s distance from major markets, including Australia, U.S. shipments are often smaller than to other economies. Global shipping rates, while down from the peak pandemic period, continue to fluctuate due to ongoing trade disruptions in the Red Sea and the tight supply of shipping contains.  U.S. exporters should monitor exchange and shipping rates, which can be high; reshipping through Australia may be an option for very small orders.

Labor costs in New Zealand are high, with the adult minimum wage rising to NZ$23.50 (about US$14) per hour in April 2025. Many organizations have adopted a Living Wage, set at NZ$28.95 (about US$17).  Weakness of the New Zealand dollar against the U.S. dollar increases the cost of imports, reducing the competitiveness of some U.S. products compared to domestic or other foreign options.