Our friends across the Tasman at Shipping New Zealand have provided an update of commercial maritime / regulatory matters in New Zealand.
A big thank you to Shipping New Zealand! You can visit their website here.
Shipping New Zealand reports:
Customs / MPI – new legislation has been passed allowing NZ to adopt a commercial vessel fee payable for every cargo vessel entering New Zealand. This new measure will be implemented from 1st April 2026. Further details of a range of fee changes from 01 April 2026 (applicable to a wide range of importers, exporters, forwarders, etc) can be found here. New Zealand Legislation can be found here.
Shipping New Zealand AGM – will be held on the 15th October in Auckland.
Biofouling Act review – this remains with Ministers for approval to adopt change, which will mean that cargo ships required to clean within the 12-200nm zone will be directed by the Ministry for Primary Industries as to where they can clean, which would impose further restrictions on the industry. Shipping New Zealand remains hopeful that Ministers reject this change. Details of NZ’s Biofouling regime can be accessed here.
Port of Auckland has announced it is in the final stages of developing an innovative in-port biofouling solution to clean niche areas of ships. The approach to spot cleaning takes the form of a collaboration between Port of Auckland and New Zealand Diving and Salvage and is aimed at helping ships when spot or niche area cleaning is required by New Zealand regulators. Details are being kept under wraps for now pending the application of intellectual property protections. Further details can be found here. Shipping New Zealand advises that the approval of the system is due to be completed shortly and that it will be meeting with the Diving Company in early October to understand the operation.
For further details about anything you have read here, or for any further details about the shipping and ports sectors in New Zealand, contact Shipping New Zealand.
