Biosecurity and quarantine
Public Health’s biosecurity and quarantine programme aims to prevent potential health risks and disease to humans through imported diseases or pests (rodents and insects) that carry diseases.
Masters of arriving shipping vessels must complete an ‘Advance Notice of Arrival’ form 48-hours prior to arrival in New Zealand and request a ‘pratique’ clearance between 12 and 24 hours prior to arrival. Advance Notice of Arrival forms are found on the NZ Customs Web site. Airline or ships must inform us of any unwell passenger arriving into the country. For international flights this is a passenger or crew member with a temperature of 38 oC or more and one or more of the following symptoms:
- appearing obviously unwell
- persistent coughing
- impaired breathing
- persistent diarrhoea
- persistent vomiting
- skin rash
- bruising or bleeding without previous injury or
- confusion of recent onset.
Under International Health Regulations 2005, all vessels travelling in international waters must hold a current Ship Sanitation Control Certificate.
Areas surrounding international seaports and airports are checked for mosquitoes as this is where unwanted exotic mosquitoes could potentially enter the country and survive.