Considering a Move to New Zealand?
14 Aug 2026
Request a Callback With Abels
Leave your details and one of our relocation experts will make it a priority to contact you and discuss your moving needs.
Quick quote
"*" indicates required fields
Abels Moving Services has provided discreet export packing and shipping for over 50 years. Request a quote today. Let your own New Zealand journey begin.
New Zealand: Geography and the Islands
New Zealand sits 900 miles east of Australia. It lies between the Tasman Sea and the South Pacific Ocean. It covers around 104,454 square miles, an area just over 10% larger than the UK.
The Cook Strait separates the main North and South Islands. The next five largest inhabited islands are Stewart Island, the Chatham Islands, Great Barrier Island, D’Urville Island, and Waiheke Island.
New Zealand’s population sits at around 5.3 million people, with an average of around 52 people per square mile. That gives the country plenty of room to breathe. It’s part of the appeal for anyone drawn to quieter surroundings and beautiful scenery.
Climate and Landscape
Moving to New Zealand unveils a striking range of landscapes. Think glacier-carved mountains, serene lakes, pristine beaches, and thermal springs. Because the islands sit so geographically isolated, they also support unique flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world.
New Zealand has a maritime climate. Average temperatures range from around 16°C in the north to 10°C in the south. Christchurch is the driest major city, with around 25 inches of rain a year. Auckland is the wettest, at around 50 inches.
The New Zealand Economy
New Zealand’s key exports include wool, food and dairy products, along with wood and paper products. The country holds trade deals with Australia, China, Japan, and the USA.
Places to Visit
Worth considering when moving to New Zealand: Milford Sound, the Abel Tasman National Park, and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Planning Your Move to New Zealand
Talk to a specialist international removal company before you move to New Zealand. The process has its own pitfalls, and a domestic mover won’t be familiar with them.
To speak with an advisor, call or email us today. Our expert team will be in touch shortly to help.
When you contact us directly, we’ll give you the resources to make a formal enquiry. We’ll also give you a precise overview of the regulations involved, so your move to New Zealand goes as smoothly as possible. This also covers the approach we take to a thorough, premium, end-to-end moving service.
When you enquire about moving from the UK to New Zealand, please tell us your volume and access. Also include your packing requirements and shipping method. This helps us provide the most useful resources for your specific move.
Once you book with Abels, you’ll meet your Customer Liaison Move Coordinator. They manage the booking, organisation and day-to-day details of your move to New Zealand.
Talk to our experts
Let Abels plan and coordinate your move to New Zealand or anywhere else in the world.
Request a move quoteExport Packing
Export packing is essential for your belongings when moving to New Zealand. It protects your items against environmental impacts in transit. We use water-resistant materials and additional packaging, while also meeting the requirements for shipping goods from the UK.
A domestic move by road needs less protection. A journey of thousands of miles in a 20ft or 40ft container needs far more. Your trusted advisor will give you an in-depth overview of the process. This includes how we handle and monitor your items throughout the move to New Zealand.
We use the highest quality export materials throughout. Our expert packing guidance gives you the resources to ensure your belongings stay correctly preserved during your move abroad.
Fine Art & Specialist Packing Services
Fine art needs particular care. Shipments to New Zealand involving valuable or delicate pieces call for enhanced export packing. This includes paintings, valuable furniture, grandfather clocks, barometers, and chandeliers. All of these need careful handling and a specific packing approach.
In many cases, we build bespoke cases specifically for the item, to give the highest level of protection. Find out more about moving antiques, fine art and valuables.
Thorough training is what keeps our packing teams versed in the correct handling and packing techniques. Find out more about moving abroad.
Airfreight
New Zealand has four main international airports and two smaller ones offering a more limited service. The main airports are Auckland (AKL), Christchurch (CHC), Hamilton (HLZ), and Palmerston North (PMR). Dunedin (DUD) and Wellington (WLG) offer more limited international services.
Auckland is the busiest, handling close to 19 million passengers a year. Christchurch is the second-busiest, at around 6.4 million.
Sea transit typically takes 11 to 13 weeks door to door, so consider airfreight for anything you need sooner. Security restrictions mean airfreighted goods need professional packing rather than owner-packed cartons. We load them into heat-treated modules of various sizes, with waterproof covering for extra protection. Allow around 2 weeks door to door for airfreight. This accounts for UK and New Zealand security and customs checks before delivery.
See more on airfreight shipments.
Enjoy a stress-free move abroad
Get in touch with our removal experts to see how we can help with your move today.
Request a move quote
Customs Information
Import and export rules govern personal items and household goods entering New Zealand. Your Abels Move Manager will give you tailored guidance through this part of the process.
You’ll need specific documentation for customs clearance. The exact requirements depend on your personal circumstances, and our team will talk you through these ahead of your move. Explore the FIDI Customs Guide for New Zealand for further background before your move consultation with the Abels team.
We choose our destination partners for their accreditations. Most hold the FIDI-FAIM quality award. That means the standard you experience with Abels continues right through customs clearance and delivery in New Zealand.
We notify our destination partner as soon as your container departs the UK. They’ll contact you as delivery approaches and manage customs clearance on your behalf. Once cleared, they’ll arrange your delivery date. This normally includes delivery, unpacking, and set-up of standard furniture (excluding flat-pack items unless agreed). It also covers removal of packaging waste and return of the container to the wharf. Talk to your Abels Customer Service Manager or Customer Liaison if you’d like additional services. This includes a put-away service, cleaning, or settling-in support.
Our destination agents bring local knowledge of import documents, customs clearance and delivery in New Zealand. This keeps your arrival at your new home as smooth as possible.
Wherever your move takes you, we’d like to be the removal company you think of. That means this move, and the next one. If you’re moving to New Zealand, or anywhere else in the world, get in touch for a removal quotation.
City Guides for New Zealand
Once you know which part of New Zealand you’re heading to, our city guides go into more detail: Moving to Christchurch, Moving to Dunedin, Moving to Hamilton, Moving to Nelson, Moving to New Plymouth, Moving to Palmerston North, Moving to Rotorua, Moving to Tauranga, and Moving to Wellington.
FAQ
City Guides for New Zealand
+44 1842 816600