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Lake Wakatipu, near Queenstown, New Zealand

International Removals from the UK to New Zealand

BAR registered Est. 1997 4.5/5 Excellent on Trustpilot

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Boxes/bags

Boxes / Bags

Boxes, bags, or personal items. No furniture

Small Move

Small Move

Partial move; Boxes + a few furniture items.

1 Bed

Studio / 1 Bed

Contents of a studio or 1-bed flat

2 Bed

2 Bed Home

Contents of a two-bedroom home

3 Bed

3 Bed Home

Contents of a three-bedroom home

4+ Bed

4+ Bed Home

Contents of a four+ bedroom home.

1st Move International provides specialist removals from the UK to New Zealand, with professional packing, insurance, weekly shipping and full door-to-door delivery to destinations across New Zealand, including Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Tauranga. Smaller shipments start from £791, with shared and full container services available for moves of all sizes. We arrange all the necessary documentation and help you meet New Zealand Customs and biosecurity requirements, so your belongings can move smoothly through clearance and on to final delivery at your new home.

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UK to New Zealand Removals: Costs, Shipping and What's Included

International removals from the UK to New Zealand typically cost from £791 for small shared container moves, from around £4,190 for a 3-bed house using a 20ft container and up to around £6,900 for a larger 4-bed house using a 40ft container. Final pricing depends on shipment size, destination, packing requirements and whether you choose a shared or full container service.

We provide regular weekly shipping for moves of all sizes, from smaller shipments using our shared container service to larger household moves using dedicated 20ft or 40ft containers. Both shared and sole-use container services are available, with sea transit times typically ranging from approximately 5 to 8 weeks to Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch.

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What's Included in Every New Zealand Move

In the UK

  • UK collection from any nationwide address Our packing teams cover the whole of mainland UK, with collection scheduled 1 to 2 weeks before your sailing date.
  • Professional packing for the journey to New Zealand Household goods are professionally packed before each shared shipment is securely palletised and shrink-wrapped using our unique Shrink-Fast system, keeping your belongings together and reducing handling throughout the journey.
  • Early Booking Discount Save 10%. Book your move to New Zealand within 10 days of receiving your quote and save 10%. There is no deposit, no cancellation fee and you can reserve your move in around 60 seconds.

Your Shipping Service

  • Shared or full container shipping Choose our shared container service for smaller moves, where you pay only for the space you use, or a dedicated 20ft or 40ft container for larger household moves.
  • Weekly shipping to New Zealand We have regular weekly departures for Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch, allowing smaller palletised moves to leave promptly rather than waiting for a traditional removals container to fill.
  • Shipment tracking Track your container throughout its journey, from UK departure through to arrival in New Zealand.

Arriving in New Zealand

  • New Zealand Customs and MPI biosecurity clearance We prepare the necessary household-effects documentation, including the NZCS 218 form, and coordinate Customs and MPI biosecurity requirements for your shipment. We also advise on the preparation of outdoor, garden, sporting and other items that may be subject to New Zealand's strict biosecurity controls.
  • Door-to-door delivery throughout New Zealand Once your belongings have cleared Customs and biosecurity, our destination network arranges final delivery to your home in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Tauranga or regional destinations throughout the North and South Islands.

Protecting your move

  • Move Protect insurance Specialist marine transit cover for international removals, priced on your declared replacement valuation.
  • Dedicated Move Manager From booking through to final delivery, you’ll have a Personal Move Manager as your main point of contact. They coordinate your collection, packing, shipping, documentation, Customs and biosecurity requirements, keeping you informed throughout your move to New Zealand.
  • BAR, IAM Premier and CTSI Approved Code credentials 1st Move International is a British Association of Removers member and IAM Premier Member, with BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee protection and CTSI Approved Code membership.

Get started with a free quote now

Costs

Cost of removals from the UK to New Zealand in 2026

Quick Answer

The cost of removals to New Zealand can range from £791 up to £6752. This is shipping by a sea freight container service with runs weekly from London Gateway port. The final cost for your move will vary depending on your destination in New Zealand, the size of your move, packing required, moving cover, customs and final delivery costs.

You can get an instant cost estimate of overseas removals to New Zealand by using our online moving costs calculator here.

We operate weekly shipping services from the UK direct to the main ports of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch with full door-to-door delivery these ports to all towns and cities in New Zealand.

Average costs for various move sizes are shown below and are based on weekly container shipping services from London to New Zealand.

International Removals Costs from UK to New Zealand 2026
Move Type Cost (GBP)
Small Move / Essentials £791 to £928
Flat / Apartment £1580 to £1990
2-Bed House £1950 to £2650
3-Bed House £4190 to £4800
4-Bed House £6020 to £6900

* Our costs table should be used as a guide only. As we do not know your collection or destination address, or how much you plan to ship, these costs do not include the following charges: UK collection, onward delivery from the port in New Zealand to your new home, professional packing and loading costs.

Get Your Removals Quote to New Zealand

To get a removals quote for your move to New Zealand, you can complete our quote form or use our WhatsApp home survey by sending photos or videos of your items.

Now you’ve seen typical removals costs, the next step is to get a tailored quote based on your own shipment. Many customers prefer WhatsApp because they can send their details and images in their own time, without needing to book a surveyor or schedule an appointment.

When you send your images, please include your UK collection point, destination in New Zealand and your email address so we can prepare and send your quote.

Easy home surveys via WhatsApp
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Lake Wakatipu, near Queenstown, New Zealand

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BAR registered Est. 1997 4.5/5 Excellent on Trustpilot

Tailored Shipping Options to New Zealand

Full Container

Exclusive use of a 20ft or 40ft container for larger household moves. Sealed from collection through to delivery in New Zealand.

  • 4-6 week transit
  • 3+ bed moves
  • 20ft or 40ft
Most popular

Shared Container

The most cost-effective option for smaller moves. Pay only for the space your pallets take on a weekly consolidated vessel.

  • 4-6 week transit
  • Small moves
  • Pay by volume

Air Freight

For urgent essentials, work documents, important personal items or a small number of boxes, air freight can be arranged as a faster alternative to sea shipping.

  • 5-10 day delivery
  • Documents & essentials
  • Charged by weight
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See How We Pack Your Belongings for New Zealand

For the long journey to New Zealand, careful packing, and reduced handling matter. Our shared removals are professionally packed before being secured onto individual pallets using our unique Shrink-Fast system.

Palletising keeps your belongings together as one identifiable shipment, improves stability during container loading and reduces unnecessary handling throughout the journey from your UK home to New Zealand. At destination, individual pallets can be unloaded and presented for clearance separately, making inspection and handling more straightforward than loose household goods packed directly into a shared container.

Read More About our Packing Process

After Before

Weekly Shipping Times to New Zealand

We operate regular weekly shipping services from the UK to New Zealand, departing from London Gateway and serving Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch. Once your collection is booked, our team will collect and professionally pack your belongings, prepare a detailed inventory and arrange prompt loading onto the next suitable sailing.

Sea transit times are typically around 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the arrival port. Your overall door-to-door moving time will also include UK collection and packing, New Zealand Customs clearance, MPI biosecurity checks where required, and final delivery to your new home.

We normally collect and pack your belongings 1 to 2 weeks before the planned departure. This allows sufficient time to prepare your inventory and Customs documentation, check any items that may be subject to New Zealand's strict biosecurity controls, and have your shipment ready for loading.

Estimated Shipping Times to New Zealand:

  • Auckland: around 29–31 days
  • Tauranga: around 35–37 days
  • Christchurch / Lyttelton: around 37–39 days
  • Wellington: around 41–43 days

These are typical shipping times to the arrival port. Final delivery times can vary depending on New Zealand Customs clearance, MPI biosecurity checks and your final delivery address.

Choose a move date that works for you. See our current UK to New Zealand shipping dates.

Real Customer Moves to New Zealand

Packed, measured and photographed before shipping.

These are genuine 1st Move customer shipments, photographed after packing and palletisation and before container loading.

For shared-container moves, the final packed volume directly affects what you pay. We measure the finished shipment accurately in cubic metres (cbm) and photograph it with its measurements clearly recorded - giving customers visible evidence of both how their belongings were packed and the actual volume they are being charged for.

We are the only international removals company to provide this photographic proof of the finished, measured shipment.

1 pallet, 1.786 cbm, shipped from the UK to Hastings RD9, New Zealand by 1st Move International

1 pallet · 1.786 cbm · UK to Hastings RD9, New Zealand · PFX/102676

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1 pallet, 1.804 cbm, shipped from the UK to Christchurch, New Zealand by 1st Move International

1 pallet · 1.804 cbm · UK to Christchurch, New Zealand · PFX/102320

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It's About Trust

Trusted. Accredited. Protected.

Moving your household goods overseas means trusting a company with some of your most important possessions. 1st Move International has been providing international removals since 1997 and is backed by recognised UK and international accreditations and consumer protection.

Established 1997 • BAR Member • CTSI Approved Code • Worldwide APG • IAM Premier Member
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BAR Accredited International Mover

1st Move International is a member of the British Association of Removers (BAR) and is regularly audited and inspected to ensure we meet BAR's professional standards and Code of Practice.

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BAR Membership →
Trading Standards Approved Code Scheme logo

Approved Code Consumer Protection

We follow the BAR Code of Practice, approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, providing recognised consumer safeguards and access to an established complaints and dispute-resolution process.

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Approved Code Membership →
BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee logo

Advance Payments Protected

Your advance payments to 1st Move International are protected under the BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee for worldwide moves, giving you added financial protection when booking your move.

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APG Certificate →
International Association of Movers logo

IAM Premier Member

As an IAM Premier Member, we are part of a worldwide network of professional moving and relocation companies, helping us provide trusted destination support in more than 170 countries.

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IAM Membership →

These accreditations mean you can move with confidence, knowing your belongings are in the hands of a professional mover committed to high standards and consumer protection.

New Zealand: Customs, Quarantine & Biosecurity

Clearing New Zealand Customs & Biosecurity

New Zealand has strict Customs and biosecurity requirements for household goods and personal effects. Your shipment must be declared correctly, with particular attention given to items that may carry soil, seeds, plant material, insects or other biological contaminants. New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) may inspect, treat or require further action on items considered a biosecurity risk.

We prepare and check the necessary household-effects documentation with you, including the NZCS 218 form, packing inventory and supporting paperwork required for Customs clearance. We also help identify items that may require additional cleaning, declaration or inspection before your move leaves the UK.

Customs and MPI clearance times can vary depending on the contents of your shipment, whether an inspection is required and whether any items need treatment before release.

1

What paperwork do I need?

For household goods and personal effects, New Zealand Customs normally requires a completed NZCS 218 form, a copy of your passport, evidence of your right to live in New Zealand where applicable, a detailed packing list and the relevant shipping documents. An MPI supplementary biosecurity declaration and permits may also be required depending on what you are shipping.

We help you prepare and check the necessary paperwork before your belongings arrive in New Zealand.

2

How do I prepare items to avoid biosecurity delays?

Items that have been used outdoors should be thoroughly cleaned before packing and must be free from soil, mud, seeds, plant material and other organic matter.

Pay particular attention to footwear, bicycles, camping and sports equipment, garden tools and other outdoor items. Biosecurity-risk goods must be declared and may be inspected on arrival.

Preparing these items properly before collection can help reduce the risk of delays, additional cleaning or treatment charges.

3

Which items are restricted or may require treatment?

Food, plants and seeds, animal products, wooden or plant-based items and used outdoor equipment can all be subject to New Zealand biosecurity controls.

Some items may require inspection, cleaning, treatment or permits, while others may not be allowed into New Zealand at all.

If you are unsure about an item, tell us before packing so we can help you check the requirements before your shipment leaves the UK.

Customer Reviews for our UK to New Zealand Removals

Here’s what our customers say about moving with 1st Move. From expert packing and weekly shipping to smooth customs clearance and delivery, our reviews reflect real experiences from door-to-door removals across New Zealand.

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.

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Tony H

Doncaster to Auckland, New Zealand

We were kept informed at all the stages. The guys that came and packed our goods were very friendly and helpful. On receiving our goods in New Zealand we found everything to be well packed and labelled. I would recommend 1st Move International to anyone thinking of sending anything overseas.

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Geoffrey B

Braintree to Lower Hutt, New Zealand

I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the incredible team you sent over yesterday. They were truly amazing—so dedicated, kind, and professional throughout the entire day. Nothing seemed too much trouble for them, and their hard work did not go unnoticed. Thank you once again for making this transition so much smoother than I could have hoped for. Your support means a lot to us.

Read more New Zealand moving reviews

Read All of Our International Removals Reviews on Trustpilot

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Frequently Asked Questions

UK to New Zealand Removals FAQ

The cheapest way to ship personal effects and household goods to New Zealand is by using our shared container service, also known as "groupage" or "less than container load" (LCL) shipping.

This service is ideal if you are shipping a smaller volume of items, for example just a few boxes or a small flat's worth of furniture,and don't need the entire space of a sole-use container.

  • How it works: Your belongings are consolidated with other customers' shipments headed to the same destination. You only pay for the space your items occupy within the container, which significantly reduces the overall cost compared to a full container. The transit times are the same for both shared container and full container services.

We provide a full door-to-door removals service to every town and city across New Zealand. Whether your destination is Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, or smaller towns and rural areas, we can arrange delivery throughout the country.

Shipments from the UK are routed through the main international arrival ports:

  • Auckland (North Island): New Zealand’s largest city and busiest port.
  • Wellington (North Island): The capital city, strategically located at the southern tip of the North Island.
  • Lyttelton/Christchurch (South Island): The principal port for Canterbury and the wider South Island.

From these entry points, shipments are delivered nationwide, ensuring full door-to-door coverage to both the North and South Islands on a weekly basis from the UK.

You can ship most electrical goods from the UK to New Zealand, but there are important considerations regarding customs, voltage compatibility, plugs, and specific restrictions (especially for items with batteries or biosecurity risks). For more information, please visit our page on shipping electrical goods from the UK

We specialise in household removals. For vehicles, our sister company Autoshippers handles car shipping to New Zealand, including exclusive container, R-Rak and RoRo services. For pets, we recommend PetAir UK, our partner and specialist pet shippers.

Yes. We offer Move Protect, our specialist cover designed for international removals. It protects your belongings from collection through to delivery, with cover based on your declared replacement value.

Full details are provided with your quotation.

Find out more about Move Protect here.
Resources

Useful New Zealand Information Resources and Guides

Shipping Furniture & Personal Effects to New Zealand

Everything you need to know about shipping furniture & personal effects from the UK to New Zealand.

Shipping Personal Effects to New Zealand Customs Guide

We cover all the legalities of shipping household goods from the UK to New Zealand.

New Zealand Customs & Quarantine Prohibited & Restricted Items

Our full guide to prohibited & restricted items when shipping to New Zealand.

New Zealand Moving Guides

Whether you're looking for basic moving tips, city info, or full visa and immigration guides we've got you covered.

Container Shipping Costs UK to New Zealand

Get the latest information on UK to New Zealand container shipping costs and American container ports.

New Zealand Container Shipping Schedules

We post up-to-date sailing schedule information and as part of our weekly shipping promise we'll tell you in advance what ship we can get your personal effects on.

Car Shipping to New Zealand

We ship cars too. Get more information on our car shipping service.

Interactive Moving Checklist

Get prepared for your move to Australia with our step-by-step international moving checklist.

1st Move Partners and Associations