For biosecurity reasons cats must undergo tests and treatment before being imported into New Zealand and in some cases direct importation is not permitted. The Animal Welfare Act deems it to be illegal to abandon an unwanted cat.
You can bring your pet dog or cat into New Zealand only if it meets the country's extremely specific health and veterinary standards. New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) allows entry only to dogs and cats flying from an approved list of countries that it considers rabies-free or rabies-controlled.
They nest on the ground and have no defenses against an invasive species that plays with and then decapitates its victims. Cats have endangered or caused the extinction of bird species in Hawaii, Australia, the Chatham Islands, and New Zealand, among others.
There are no laws about this, but the SPCA and Forest & Bird have guidelines for responsible cat ownership that include desexing cats that aren't intended for breeding, putting bells on cats to help warn birds and discourage hunting, and keeping your cat inside at night.
In-Cabin Pet Policy
Air New Zealand does not permit the transport of live animals in the cabin.
If you have given MPI at least 5 working days advance notification of arrival and payment arrangements have been made, your cat or dog will be inspected by an MPI veterinarian on arrival. Cats and dogs from Australia that meet our import requirements will be given clearance into New Zealand at the border.
There is no limit on the number of cats you can keep on your property. We also do not control the noise that free, wandering cats make. If the cats at a private residence are creating a nuisance, such as noise or odour, please contact us.
TWO CATS PER household, compulsory registration and confinement are just some of the new by-laws passed by a South Australian council this week. Mount Barker District Council says the new rules are aimed at reducing the impact cats have on our environment and keeping the pets safer.
Feral cats threaten the survival of over 100 native species in Australia. They have caused the extinction of some ground-dwelling birds and small to medium-sized mammals. They are a major cause of decline for many land-based endangered animals such as the bilby, bandicoot, bettong and numbat.
Australia is a big place, but not if you're a cat. Strict curfews banning pet felines from prowling the streets at night are springing up across the country to protect native wildlife. Some councils have forced owners to keep them permanently cooped up in their homes or in enclosures outside.
In April, Akureyri—the largest municipality in the country's north, with a population of 19,000 people and some 2,000 to 3,000 cats—decided to ban their feline residents from night roaming outside. Neighboring Húsavík banned cats several years ago from going outdoors day and night.
Cats and dogs coming to Australia from New Zealand do not require an import permit. There is no Australian post entry quarantine period.
Feral cats are widespread in New Zealand. They live in a wide variety of habitats, including coastal areas, farmland, forests, riverbeds, sub-alpine environments and on islands.
New Zealand is very dog and cat-friendly. In fact, there are more companion animals in New Zealand than there are humans!
Legal requirements
The feral cat is a category 3, 4 and 6 restricted invasive animal under the Biosecurity Act 2014. You must not move, keep, feed, give away, sell, or release into the environment.
Council can issue an order to stop your cat trespassing and if you don't comply you can be fined. Some Councils require cats to be confined to their owner's property during certain hours.
Cats probably arrived in Australia as pets of European settlers and were later deliberately introduced in an attempt to control rabbits and rodents. Cats now occupy 99% of Australia, including many offshore islands.
When you apply for a licence to own more than two dogs, an Animal Management Officer will visit your property and check it is appropriate for the number and type of dogs you wish to keep. Before the licence is approved, all dogs must be registered and microchipped in accordance with the Dog Control Act 1996.
New Zealand's rate of cat ownership is the highest in the world – nearly half of all households have at least one cat.
You'll need to place you pet in quarantine for at least 10 days in New Zealand. This will cost you approximately between NZ$1,400 and NZ$2,000 per animal including transportation from the airport and government (MAF) inspection fees. Detailed contact information for these facilities is here.
Generally, airlines charge a pet fee of $100 to $200 each way, but prices will vary depending on where you're traveling and your airline. Check the airline's pet policy before purchasing a ticket to make sure your pet meets the airline's breed and size requirements. If not, the airline won't let them board.
No, unfortunately. In the interest of NZ biosecurity, visiting your pet while they are in NZ quarantine is not permitted.