Container Shipping to Canada from New Zealand

Whether you’re moving personal items or exporting commercial goods, container shipping is the most profitable way of moving goods between New Zealand and Canada. Both countries neighbor the Pacific Ocean, allowing people and goods to travel across thousands of miles through established sea routes.

But if you’ve never done this before, you may need a little help navigating the rough waters of container shipping, and this is where our guide comes in!

In this guide on container shipping to Canada from New Zealand, we’ll help you figure out each step of the journey, including costs, add-on services, modes of shipping, and regulations.

Sections

Major Ports and Routes Connecting Canada and New Zealand

Major Ports in New Zealand

The two most popular ports in New Zealand are the Tauranga and Napier ports.

Port of Tauranga

As the biggest port in New Zealand, Tauranga Port connects the country to several ocean routes. The port is connected to Auckland, Waikato, and the central North Island by rail and roads to facilitate easy import and export services.

Port of Napier

The Port of Napier is also called “the shipping gate” of the country. Located on Hawke Bay, the port oversees considerable container ship traffic.

Major Ports in Canada

Container ships from Canada often dock at Vancouver and Prince Rupert ports, both located on the Pacific Coast.

Vancouver
Located by the Pacific Ocean, the port of Vancouver receives cargo from all over the world, including New Zealand, Australia, and Asian markets. It’s Canada’s largest port and is connected to the rest of the country via roads.

Montreal
The busiest port in Eastern Canada is the Port of Montreal. Closer to Toronto, it’s less busy compared to Vancouver and may be ideal for shipments to Northern Canada.

Popular Sea Routes Connecting Canada and New Zealand

Tauranga to Vancouver: Ships leave from Tauranga to Vancouver every week or two on average. The journey varies between 20 to 63 days, depending on the carrier and visited ports.

Tauranga to Prince Rupert: Similar to the Tauranga to Vancouver route, though the journey may finish faster at around 58 days.

Napier to Vancouver: Napier to Vancouver is a frequently used route, so it’s easy to find a ship almost every week. The journey takes between 35 to 51 days, depending on the number of stops. Most ships make at least one stop in the Port of Shanghai.

Napier to Prince Rupert: Napier to Prince Rupert is another high-frequency route. The trip takes around 63 days.

Cost Factors in Container Shipping to Canada from New Zealand

While the distance between ports is the most important determinant when it comes to calculating the costs of shipping, several other important metrics such as insurance, logistics services, and taxes also significantly affect the final price tag.

Let’s go over all the cost factors you should consider when shipping cargo to Canada from New Zealand.

Insurance

Types: While shipping companies offer Basic Carrier Liability, we strongly recommend purchasing a separate insurance policy to ensure you are covered in case your cargo gets damaged. Basic Carrier Liability only covers damages for certain situations and pays out minimum coverage that’s nowhere close to the actual value of your cargo.

The most commonly preferred insurance type for shipping is the All Risk (Full Coverage) insurance. With All Risk insurance, you will receive the full value of your goods if they are damaged during shipping.

Another alternative is Total Loss insurance, though it’s not as comprehensive as the All Risk insurance. Total Loss insurance policies have a lower payment cap, and you only receive money if your whole shipment is lost.

Coverage: The more comprehensive the coverage, the more expensive the policy.

Cost considerations: Insurance costs are calculated based on the value of your shipment, the shipping cost, the nature of your goods, the route, and the distance between the ports.

Packing Services

Benefits: Professional packers can pack your cargo efficiently and securely to save you money. If you have a lot of goods to pack or fragile cargo that needs to be packed carefully, you may benefit from professional help.

Types: You can get professionals for packing different kinds of cargo. If you are shipping fragile items, you can also get them packed separately and securely.

Costs: Packing services charge you by the amount/number of items you want packed and what they are. They could also charge you extra if your cargo requires specific packing equipment, such as crates, pallets, and so on.

Some shipping companies offer packing services on the side, though the costs are usually not included in the quotes. You can inquire about extra services and costs by emailing or calling the company.

Pick-up and Delivery

Depending on the size of your cargo and the locations of the ports, you may need pick-up and delivery services. Professionals pick up your delivery from the pick-up location and take it to the port or the storage area. When your goods arrive at the destination port, they deliver the cargo to the final location.

The cost of pick-up and delivery services vary, depending on:

Type of the transportation vehicle;
The distance of the journey;
The urgency of your cargo.

If you think you need help with pick-up and delivery, ask the shipping company if they provide these services and inquire about the costs. It’s a good idea to research your options and make a plan before you set out, as last-minute arrangements can be quite expensive.

Taxes and Duty Charges

If you’re moving to Canada from New Zealand and taking your household items with you, we’ve got good news! You don’t have to pay taxes for your personal and household items, including but not limited to household appliances (fridges, washing machines, and so on), furniture, technological goods, art, and jewelry.

However, it’s a good idea to have ownership documents for luxury goods like precious art and jewelry to avoid any issues at customs.

Keep in mind that you must pay taxes for large-scale production equipment such as farming, manufacturing, and construction equipment.

You may also have some trouble bringing a car to Canada. While Canada doesn’t charge taxes for personal vehicles, the country has strict rules about allowed vehicles and customs processes may vary depending on your car and the province you move to. We will talk about this in more detail in the next section.

To ensure a smooth customs process and avoid fines and fees, take a look at Canada Customs rules before you plan your move.

Storage

Options: You may need short or long-term storage, depending on the type and timing of your shipment. You won’t have any trouble finding storage facilities in either country and some shipment companies offer storage services as well. Storage facilities vary from regular container storage to more sophisticated storage areas with temperature control, quarantine, and other unique features

Costs: Storage fees vary based on the duration of stay, and the nature and amount of your cargo.

Additional Charges

Handling fees: Handling fees are usually included in price quotes, and they cover loading and unloading charges and other logistical labor involved in carrying the cargo. If your shipment has to be loaded and unloaded at different ports, or you share a container with other renters, the handling fees will be higher.

Documentation: Documentation fees are usually included in the quoted prices. These are small fees for processing important documents like the Bill of Lading.

Other: You may have to pay extra fees if your cargo requires special attention and care, such as temperature checks, quarantine, or fumigation services.

Please note that most international shipping companies offer these services as add-ons. You often pay extra for these services, so you should learn about the costs before you shake hands.

Modes of Container Shipping

Modes of container shipping can be a little confusing at first but they are quite easy once you know the relevant terms like breakbulk, LCL, and FCL. Let’s figure out which mode suits your needs.

Full Container Load (FCL)

FCL or full container load means to rent an entire container for your goods. It belongs to you for the entirety of the journey and you don’t have to share container space with others.

Here are some of the benefits of renting a full container:

Price: Logistically speaking, shipping companies put less effort and time into transporting a container when it’s filled with one customer’s goods, which is why they charge less per cubic meter for FCLs. If you are shipping a 2-3 bedroom apartment, this would be the ideal choice.

Privacy and security: Since the entire container belongs to you, you have more privacy and security. You don’t have to worry about possible mix-ups during loading and offloading.

Optimized for delicate goods: If you’re transporting perishable goods and require specific conditions for the container, renting a full container can save you a lot of headaches.

Speed: Customs inspections and cargo loading are easier for full containers, so they can be processed faster at the borders.

Less than Container Load (LCL)

LCL stands for less than container load, and it means you rent a portion of the container and share the space with other customers.

Picking LCL can be a good option as they are:

Cost efficient: While the rates for a cubic meter of space are higher compared to FCL, you can still get a cheaper quote if you want to ship a small cargo.

Frequent: LCL cargo shipments are more frequent than FCL shipments. Since you need less space, you will have more options.

Breakbulk and Bulk Shipping

Bulk and breakbulk shipping options are usually used for importing cargo that isn’t suitable for containers due to their nature.

If you are transporting goods that don’t need to be palleted, such as coal, grains, or iron ore, you can go with bulk shipping.

If you are exporting individually loaded large objects that don’t fit into containers, or individual units of items (boxes, drums, barrels), you may consider breakbulk shipping.

The benefits include:

Oversized cargo: If you’re shipping oversized items that don’t fit into regular containers, breakbulk shipping is the best way to move forward.

Transporting loose materials: Bulk shipping is the most efficient and cost-effective way of transporting loose cargo (grains, ore, petroleum products) since they can be poured into the ship’s hull.

Specialized handling: Logistics for transporting bulk and breakbulk cargo can be quite different compared to container transport. If you are exporting or importing a large shipment, you will benefit from specialized handling that allows you to transport large quantities of goods.

Shipping Container Sizes and Options

Containers can be divided into standard and specialized containers. Most shipping companies offer standard containers, and some will also offer specialized containers for special cargo needs.

Standard Sizes

20-foot container: A 20-foot container is the smallest container you can rent. You can move a 2-3 bedroom apartment quite easily in a 20-foot container.

40-foot container: Double the size of a 20-foot container, a 40-foot container can easily transport a large house, or three to four-bedroom apartment.

Specialized Containers

Refrigerated containers (Reefers): These are temperature-controlled containers. If you’re transporting perishable or temperature-sensitive goods like pharmaceuticals or food, they are what you need.

Open-top containers: Certain objects are too tall to fit in regular containers and must be transported in open-top containers. They can be covered with a tarp and other materials to prevent any damage during the journey.

Flat-rack containers: These containers have collapsible walls that help load heavy cargo.

Tank containers: If you are transporting liquid or gas, you must rent a tank container designed to secure such substances.

High cube containers: They are like regular containers but taller, mostly used to transport irregular-shaped and tall cargo.

	Length	Height	Width	Volume	Price Range
20ft Shipping Container	19.7 ft 6 m	7.8 ft 2.4 m	7.7 ft 2.3 m	1,173 ft³ 33.2 m³	CAD 954 – 3,890 NZD 1,154 – 4,708
40ft Shipping Container	39.7 ft 12.1 m	7.8 ft 2.4 m	7.7 ft 2.3 m	2,390 ft³ 67.7 m³	CAD 2,136 – 4,280 NZD 2,586 – 5,180
Shipping a Car	19 ft 5.8 m	7.2 ft 2.2 m	7.2 ft 2.2 m	982.8 ft³ 27.83 m³	CAD 2,702 – 6,215 NZD 3,270 – 7,521

All prices indicate container shipping from port to port in October 2023.

Sea Freight Container Prices to Canada from New Zealand

The cheapest route between Canada and New Zealand is from Tauranga to Prince Rupert. However, keep in mind that add-on services, such as pick-up and delivery, may change the costs.

For a 20ft container, shipping from Auckland, New Zealand to Vancouver, Canada costs NZD 1,154 and CAD 954;

For a 40ft container, the price from Auckland, New Zealand to Vancouver, Canada costs NZD 2,586, CAD 2,136.

You can also see a couple of different options in the tables below. Please keep in mind that getting an online quote is more reliable than standardized price tables as prices may change quickly.

20ft Shipping Container

	Shipping to Vancouver	Shipping to Montreal	Shipping to Halifax
Shipping from Auckland	CAD 954 NZD 1,154	No fixed prices. Use our quote tool below.	No fixed prices. Use our quote tool below.
Shipping from Wellington	CAD 3,890 NZD 4,708	No fixed prices. Use our quote tool below.	No fixed prices. Use our quote tool below.

All prices indicate container shipping from port to port in November 2023.

40ft Shipping Container

	Shipping to Vancouver	Shipping to Montreal	Shipping to Halifax
Shipping from Auckland	CAD 2,136 NZD 2,586	No fixed prices. Use our quote tool below.	No fixed prices. Use our quote tool below.
Shipping from Wellington	CAD 4,280 NZD 5,180	No fixed prices. Use our quote tool below.	No fixed prices. Use our quote tool below.

All prices indicate container shipping from port to port in November 2023.

Shipping a Car: What You Need to Know

Canada has very specific vehicle regulations and only allows people to bring personal vehicles to the country under special conditions. Cars from the US and Mexico are usually no problem as they pass Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Act guidelines, but importing cars from anywhere else, including New Zealand, can be hard.

First, you must ensure that your car is eligible for shipping to Canada. Regulations and requirements for allowed cars are quite complicated, though we did our best to present them as simply as possible down below.

You should also check with your provincial and local authorities to see if you can register your car once you bring it. Due to very specific vehicle registration regulations, you may not be able to drive your car, even if you manage to bring it to Canada.

Please note that it’s entirely your responsibility to ensure that your car is allowed in Canada, and failing to procure the documents that prove it’s in line with regulations will cause your car to get stuck at the border. In those cases, you must pay for the cost of car removal and other fees, not to mention a fine.

Here are the conditions for shipping a car to Canada from New Zealand.

Regulations and Requirements

The vehicle is 15 years or older (it’s a regulated class of vehicle and not a bus).
It’s a bus that was manufactured before January 1, 1971.
The vehicle doesn’t come under one of the vehicle classes regulated under the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations.
The vehicle meets all Canadian standards. You require pre-approval from Transport Canada before shipping.
You also need pre-authorization from Transport Canada if it was bought in Canada and it’s coming back to Canada.
The vehicle was bought in the U.S. and fits the Registrar of Imported Vehicles standards.

That means, if your car is older than 15 years old, you have a higher chance of being able to ship it to Canada. However, you may still have trouble registering and driving the car in Canada, depending on your local guidelines and regulations.

For the newer cars, the rules are more complicated and you should always check both Transport Canada vehicle import rules and the Registrar of Imported Vehicles before you ship a car.

Once you ascertain that your car is eligible to ship, you can fill out the necessary forms and apply for pre-authorization from Transport Canada.

Preparation and Necessary Documentation

Vehicle preparation: Experts say that it’s best to have your tank less than ¼ full before shipping. You can drive it around a little before you get to the port. It’s also a good idea to clean your car and get it ready for the journey. You don’t want to accidentally bring mud to Canada with your car (they’re very sensitive about biodiversity protection), so ensure everything is clean, including the wheels.

Vehicle title: Ensure that you have the vehicle title/ownership document with you.

Bill of lading: The contract between you and the shipping company, detailing the destination, the make and model of the car, and its vehicle identification number (VIN).

Bill of sale: A document that shows how much the car cost, the date of the sale, the seller, and the buyer.

Vehicle Import form: The vehicle registration certificate (V5C).

	Shipping to Vancouver	Shipping to Montreal	Shipping to Halifax
Shipping from Auckland	CAD 2,702 NZD 3,270	CAD 6,215 NZD 7,521	CAD 5,520 NZD 6,681
Shipping from Wellington	CAD 2,690 NZD 3,255	CAD 6,203 NZD 7,507	CAD 6,039 NZD 7,308

The prices are average and indicate shipping a 2020 Jeep Renegade from port to port in November 2023.

Shipping Times for Sea Freight to Canada from New Zealand

	Shipping to Vancouver	Shipping to Montreal	Shipping to Halifax
Shipping from Auckland	19 – 24 days	25 – 30 days	26 – 31 days
Shipping from Wellington	20 – 25 days	25 – 30 days	26 – 31 days

Government Regulations and the Customs Process

Pay attention to any government regulations and customs rules to ensure your cargo completes its journey quickly. Missing documents and poor planning could easily cause your shipment to be delayed or held up at the ports and costumes.

Necessary Documentation for Shipping

There are a couple of must-have documents you should learn about:

Bill of lading: Once you shake hands with a shipping company, they make you sign a contract and give you your bill of lading that shows all the relevant details about your transaction, including details of your cargo, its destination, and expected arrival time.

Packing list: Always have multiple lists of your cargo content. They will be useful for many purposes, including shipping, packing, insurance, and customs processes.

Insurance documents: Don’t skip buying insurance and have a copy of your insurance policy with you.

Importers and exporters must have additional documents related to their products:

Certificate of origin: Shows where the goods were manufactured/bought from originally.

Commercial invoice: Shows the cost of the goods.

Import/export declaration: All relevant documentation as required by the import/export countries.

Canada’s Customs Regulations

Your experience with Canada Customs may vary greatly depending on your immigration status and the nature of your shipment.

If you are a resident of Canada, and you’re moving your personal effects and household items, the rules are pretty simple.

However, if you’re shipping for an import and export business, there are several things you need to consider and figure out before you send your goods.

The Canada Border Services Agency works closely with several other institutions to manage and uphold customs regulations. These agencies are:

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA): They work on the ground, inspecting shipments and documents to ensure cargo fits the regulations.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA): If you’re bringing food, plant, or animal products to Canada, you must review CFIA rules and guidelines thoroughly before the shipment. Many plant, food, and animal products may harm Canada’s ecosystem and CFIA takes precautions to prevent such occurrences.

Environment and Climate Change Canada: Another institution designed to protect the environment from harmful pollutants, especially from climate change, ECC regulates potential pollutants, including cars and other technological effects you might bring to the country.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO): As you can tell by the name, DFO acts to protect Canada’s aquatic habitats.

Transport Canada: If you want to ship a car to Canada, apply for pre-authorization from Transport Canada first.

New Zealand’s Export Regulations

New Zealand has strict import and export rules designed to protect its environmental, social, and cultural well-being and diversity:

New Zealand Customs Agency: Not only does the agency handle New Zealand’s travelers in addition to import and export businesses single-handedly, it also has one of the best customs agency websites in the world. You can find out everything you need to learn about importing and exporting to and from New Zealand here, and all rules about prohibited/restricted items.

Department of Conservation: The Department of Conservation works to protect New Zealand’s rich biodiversity. Certain natural resources, plants, and animals can’t be exported to other countries and the Department of Conservation has the final word over what can be brought in and out.

Top Goods and Services Imported by Canada

Canada and New Zealand enjoy a vibrant trade relationship and Canada imports many different products from New Zealand.

Canada Imports from New Zealand

Food: Especially meat but also dairy, eggs, honey, fruits, nuts, beverages, spirits, vinegar, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, animal, vegetable fats and oils, oil seeds, grains, and seeds.
Machinery: Including nuclear reactors, boilers, and other heavy-duty machines.
Chemical substances: Glues, enzymes, organic chemicals.
Antiques
Electric and electronic equipment
Plastics
Animal residues
Pharmaceutical products
Optical, photo, technical, and medical apparatuses

Prohibited or Restricted Exports from New Zealand

New Zealand customs regulations (and international trade agreements) ban or restrict exporting certain protected goods like antiquities, art, greenstone, and wildlife. Protected goods and items can’t be exported unless with specific permission or in special circumstances.

Protected New Zealand Objects

Objects made from parts of moa or other extinct NZ species;
Māori artifacts older than 50 years old;
Culturally significant items over 50 years old, such as photographs and films, stamps and coins, works of art, books, letters and other documents, traction engines, veteran and vintage motor vehicles, parts of ships and aircraft;
Pounamu (greenstone) in its natural state. You can export jewelry or items that contain pounamu, though the total weight of pounamu should not exceed 5 kg.

Goods That Require Both Import and Export Permits:

Some orchids and cycads
Many big game hunting trophies
Medicines that contain bear, tiger, turtle, musk, Aucklandia root, etc.
Any item made from turtle meat or marine turtle shell
Elephant ivory – jewelry, carvings, tusks, etc.
Big cat skins or coats
Any whale/cetacean items (whalebone carvings, dolphin teeth, etc.)

Goods That Require an Export Permit:

Coral, including the shells you pick up on the beach
Shark teeth
Medicines with seahorse, ginseng, orchids, etc.
Boa/python skins, cobra wine, etc.
Elephant ivory older than 1975, such as bagpipes and antique items
Plants such as cacti, some orchids, cyclamens, and carnivorous plants
Giant clam meat and shells

Restricted Items for Shipping to Canada

There are different regulations that govern imported goods and personal effects. We will provide a brief list of rules and restricted items for individual shippers.

However, if you have an import/export business, you should consult import regulations to ensure your goods are allowed in Canada. You can learn more about import standards on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website. CFIA offers an Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) to help you with the import requirements of food products.

Canada customs ban substances that can harm Canada’s ecosystem, including many food, plant, and animal products. You must always declare any food, plant, and animal products you ship to the country, including conserved goods, and furniture made of wood and decorated with plants.

Other important items you must declare include weapons, explosives, and prescription drugs.

Certain items and substances that seem innocuous such as homemade remedies, herbal incense, carved furniture, or local and traditional clothing should be declared as well if they are made with food, plant, and animal products.

We listed the restricted and prohibited goods for Canada below. You can bring restricted goods to the country if you receive authorization beforehand. Do not bring prohibited goods under any condition.

Canada Customs Agency regularly updates its restricted and prohibited goods lists.

Prohibited Goods

Certain types of firearms and weapons;
Cannabis;
Potentially harmful substances and products that can threaten Canada’s biodiversity;
Endangered species;
Objects made from/with parts from endangered species.

Restricted Items

You can only bring the following items to Canada if you have proper permits:

Certain types of ammunition, fireworks, and explosives. Declare all the ammunition, weapons, and firearms. Check CBSA for more details.
Prescription drugs;
Historically and culturally significant artifacts.

Prohibited and Regulated Consumer Items

Prohibited Products

Canadian health and safety regulations don’t allow certain consumer goods into the country:

Infant Self-Feeding Devices
Relight Candles
Balloon Blowing Kits
Baby Walkers
Lawn Darts with Elongated Tips
Jequirity Beans
Yo-Yo Balls with long cords

Regulated Products

Certain consumer products are strictly regulated and can’t be admitted to the country unless they fit the Canadian safety standards:

Car Seats
Lighters
Cribs, Cradles, and Bassinets
Hockey Helmets and Face Protectors
Playpens
Baby Gates
Strollers

Special Considerations

CBSA may enforce bans and limits on certain types of imported animals if CFIA and other related institutions decide they may represent a threat to Canada.

As of November 2023, you can’t import commercial dogs from countries with a high risk of rabies. Birds and bird-related products from regions affected by Avian Influenza will be rejected.

Obtaining a Personalized Quote

You can get personalized quotes instantly and have a clear estimate of shipping costs.

Accuracy: Given that standardized rates can change at any time due to seasonal and short-term weather forecasts, traffic, and other issues, personalized quotes are the best way to get an accurate estimate of shipping costs. You can also select add-on services like packing, storage, and pick-up/delivery to have a better idea of how much they cost.

Budgeting: Thanks to the increased price accuracy, you will be able to plan your budget.

Time-saving: The online tool works instantly. There’s no need to call, email, or hold until a customer service representative is with you.

Flexibility: You can receive quotes for different services or different ports and have more flexibility in planning your shipments.

F.A.Q.

Can I send my car to Canada?

Usually, you can’t send a car to Canada if it’s not from the US or Mexico but Transport Canada makes some exceptions for personal vehicles. You should check Transport Canada guidelines to see if your car fits the criteria.

Can I ship a crib, baby walker, playpen, and/or stroller from New Zealand to Canada?

Canada has strict health and safety regulations for kids-related consumer products. Cribs, playpens, and strollers may be shipped if they fit Canadian guidelines for safety. Baby walkers are prohibited.

How long does a typical shipment take from New Zealand to Canada?

The shipment may take between 50-63 days, depending on the departure and destination ports.

I’m moving from New Zealand to Canada. How big a container should I rent?

It depends on how much stuff you have. Generally speaking, if you have a one-bedroom or studio apartment, sharing container space with others might be the best decision. For a 2-3 bedroom apartment, consider a 20-foot container. To ship a bigger apartment or house, rent a 40-foot container.