Prescription medicines
Purpose of prohibition:
The importation of prescription medicines is controlled by the Ministry of Health under the Medicines Act 1981.
Personal imports (accompanying a traveller)
If you arrive in New Zealand carrying prescription medicine on your person or in your luggage you may only bring it in if you:
Declare the medicine on your passenger arrival card.
Have a copy of the medicine’s prescription or a letter from your doctor stating that you are being treated with the medicine.
Have the medicine in its original pharmacy container, with your name on the label, and strength and dosage details clearly stated.
Have no more than three months supply (oral contraceptives, where a six month supply is permitted, are the exception).
Having medicines sent from overseas
If you are having medicine sent to you from overseas you will need to prove to the Ministry of Health that you have a reasonable excuse for the importation.
In most cases the Ministry of Health will be satisfied a reasonable excuse has been established when the importer presents, either:
an original letter from a New Zealand authorised prescriber (doctor, dentist, midwife or nurse prescriber) or
an original prescription from a New Zealand authorised prescriber (doctor, dentist, midwife or nurse prescriber).