Aircraft and Airports
The Places of First Arrival (POFA) Standard was reviewed in 2010 and the updated standard (version 1, December 2010) has now been signed off by MAF. This means that all air and sea ports that decide to continue to be Places of First Arrival need to be assessed by MAF against the new standard.
The main change to the standard is that all POFAs must have an operating manual that describes the systems and processes in place at their port that allow them to meet the biosecurity standard requirements.
What we need you to do now:
- Read through the POFA Standard
(79 KB) and Guidance Document (586 KB), - Utilise the assessment checklist Assessment of Airports (163 KB),
- Complete your biosecurity management system (BMS) i.e.operating manual with sufficient detail to describe the systems and processes at your port,
- Check your BMS covers the points listed in the self-assessment checklist specific to sea or airports. (to be sent by your MAF Liaison),
- Speak with your local MAF liaison if you have any questions, and
- Send in your completed BMS to your MAF liaison. They will arrange for the Biosecurity Inspector to assess the BMS and arrange a time to visit and assess your air or sea port.
The cost of PoFA assessments against biosecurity standards are recovered as part of the MAF Biosecurity (Costs) Regulations. This includes:
- Audit preparation - including time taken to review your BMS, review of port activity and compliance history
- On site assessment - Actual time taken to physically audit your port including talking to relevant staff, reviewing documentation, looking at relevant equipment and areas
- A zone fee (based on the distance from the nearest MAF office) or actual and reasonable costs (if no MAF office is nearby), and
- Post audit activities – including follow up of any non-compliances identified during the audit, post audit administration activities and sign off of audits
If you do not wish to be approved as a Place of First Arrival, please contact Jo-Anne Stokes on Jo-Anne.Stokes@maf.govt.nz or 04 894 0238.
All aircraft arriving to New Zealand must arrive at an approved Place of First Arrival unless authorized to do otherwise.
Airports approved as a place of first arrival have MAF approved arrangements, facilities and systems for the clearance of passengers, crew, their baggage, risk goods and destruction of aircraft waste. Certain approved airports have facilities in place to receive commercial cargo. Commercial cargo (including pets) may only permitted to be landed at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch international airports.
The person in charge (Captain) of an aircraft, that is not a commercial scheduled flight, must notify the MAF inspector at the airport as to when it is intending to arrive.
The minimum requirements for aircraft and airports undertaking international travel are set out in the standard titled Requirements for Places of First Arrival (Airports).
Airports currently approved as a place of first arrival are:
- Kerikeri Airport (restricted to a maximum of 12 pax and crew)
- Auckland International Airport *
- Hamilton International Airport
- Rotorua International Airport
- Hawkes Bay Airport (restricted to a maximum of 15 pax and crew)
- Palmerston North International Airport
- Wellington International Airport *
- Nelson Airport (restricted to a maximum of 12 pax and crew)
- Christchurch International Airport *
- Dunedin International Airport
- Queenstown International Airport
- Invercargill International Airport
- Whenuapai Air Force Base (Military)
- Ohakea Air Force Base (Military)
* Airports approved to receive commercial cargo (including pets)
Arrival to an airport not approved as a Place of First Arrival
If you plan to land an international flight at an airport not listed as a Place of First Arrival permission must be sought and approved by the Director-General of MAF (79 KB) or a delegate prior to the arrival, contact for application. Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Approval may also be required by other government agencies such as NZ Customs 
and MOH.
Information for Travellers arriving by air is available in the Entering New Zealand, Aircraft and also the Entering New Zealand, Personal Travellers section of our site.
Disinsection of aircraft
MAF and the Ministry of Health require aircraft to be "disinsected" for invertebrates that may be pests or vectors of animal, plant or human disease. Surveys have conclusively shown that international aircraft present a pathway for hitch-hiking invertebrates.
Australia and New Zealand have a joint procedure for the disinsection of aircraft arriving from overseas.
Refuse disposal
For requirements for quarantine refuse disposal refer to the Standard for General Transitional Facilities for Uncleared Goods (BNZ-STD-TFGEN). The guidance document to the standard contains information on disposal of refuse at flight kitchens for quarantine waste or at incineration/ steam sterilisation facilities.
- Standard for General Transitional Facilities for Uncleared Goods
- List of Approved Disinfectants for Incineration/Sterilisation Facilities
Page last updated: 16 February 2012