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Shopping online Updated 01 Oct 2011

What about tax?

If you're buying from overseas, you may have to pay GST (15 percent) and import duty.

Duties on imports vary with what you're buying, and they may change from time to time. In general, duty is charged on goods that are widely manufactured in New Zealand - it's meant to assist local industry. So books, CDs, videos/DVDs, watches, and computer games don't attract duty. Clothing and footwear attract duty at 10 percent and jewellery at 5 percent. Go to www.customs.govt.nz for a full list of customs charges such as import entry fee and biosecurity fees.

If the total GST and import duty on your purchase is under NZ$60, Customs won't charge GST and duty - unless you've bought alcohol, cigarettes or tobacco. So if you buy non-alcohol or non-tobacco goods that don't attract import duty and the total cost (including postage, freight and insurance) comes to less than $400, you won't pay any GST. But if the total cost is $400 or more, you'll pay GST on all of that. And if the goods do attract duty, your total pre-duty cost will have to be a bit lower than $400 to take account of the duty.

If Customs believes duty or GST is payable, they'll contact you - and you won't get your order until you've paid up.

Customs can also advise you about products that are prohibited or restricted. You need permission from MAF to bring any plants, seeds, or animal products into New Zealand.