Information for health professionals and the wider sector is gradually moving. Until mid-2026, information will either be here, or on our other website — tewhatuora.govt.nz.
Maritime border health requirements
Before arriving in New Zealand waters, ships’ masters must submit an Advanced Notice of Arrival, No Change of Health Status and Maritime Declaration of Health documentation. Some ships do not have to apply for quarantine clearance but still need to submit an Advanced Notice of Arrival.
On this page
- Advance Notice of Arrival (ANA)
- Applying for pratique (quarantine clearance)
- How to apply for quarantine clearance
- <a id="PH"></a>Email quarantine clearance documents to the local public health service
- Ships exempt from quarantine clearance
- <a id="symptoms"></a>If a person has symptoms when in harbour
- Guidance for when a quarantinable disease is suspected or known to be onboard a vessel
Advance Notice of Arrival (ANA)
The ship’s master or owner must complete the Advance Notice of Arrival (ANA) form and submit it at least 48 hours before arrival in New Zealand territorial waters (12 nautical miles). The ANA is a legal Customs requirement.
Where to submit the ANA
- Commercial ships - Customs
- Recreational vessels, yachts and small craft - Customs
- Cruise ships - Customs
Commercial vessels and cruise ships should email the ANA without attachments to the local public health service at the vessel's first port of arrival.
Local public health service contacts
Applying for pratique (quarantine clearance)
The ship’s master must apply for quarantine clearance (pratique) no earlier than 24 hours and no later than 12 hours before arrival. This can be done directly or through the ship’s agent. For health purposes, the time of ‘arrival’ is when a ship:
- reaches the pilotage area
- anchorage point near the pilotage area
- the place of intended disembarkation such as the Subantarctic Islands, when the vessel will not be using a pilot.
Some ships do not have to apply for quarantine clearance.
How to apply for quarantine clearance
Submit these documents 12 to 24 hours before arrival to the relevant local public health contact.
- A copy of the ANA without the attachments (if this has not been submitted already).
- Maritime Declaration of Health.
- No Change of Health Status Report.
Maritime Declaration of Health (MDH)
The ship's master must complete an MDH even if everyone is healthy. It should be countersigned by the ship’s surgeon if there is one.
Further details of any illness reported in the Advance Notice of Arrival should be included in the MDH.
Maritime declaration of health
No Change of Health Status Report
No Change of Health Status Report - Editable
Email quarantine clearance documents to the local public health service
Email maritime quarantine clearance documents to the local public health contact at the vessel’s first port of arrival.
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Port |
Public Health Service contact |
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Opua and Bay of Islands |
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Northland and Northport |
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Auckland |
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Taharoa |
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Toi te Ora (Bay of Plenty) and Tauranga |
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Tairawhiti (Gisborne) |
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Taranaki and New Plymouth |
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Hawkes Bay and Napier |
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Wellington or Centreport |
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Nelson Marlborough or Picton, Nelson |
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Canterbury or Lyttelton, Akaroa, Kaikoura |
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Primeport Timaru |
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Southern or Port Otago, South Port, Milford |
SO-NPHS-OnCallHPO@tewhatuora.govt.nz |
Ships exempt from quarantine clearance
These ships do not need to apply for quarantine clearance. But the ship’s master must advise health authorities if there are or could be sick passengers or crew on board.
All yachts defined in the Shipping and Seamen’s Act 1952
All yachts arriving in New Zealand are inspected by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). This is to is check for the presence of exotic mosquitoes (at any life stage) or of their actual or potential breeding sites. If MPI becomes aware of illness on any vessel they contact the relevant Public Health Service.
Ships from some navies
All ships belonging to the:
- Royal New Zealand Navy
- Royal Navy
- Royal Australian Navy
- United States Navy
- Royal Canadian Navy
Exempted navy ships do their own inspections and will inform the health authorities if any illness is found.
International ships granted pratique at a previous New Zealand port
These ships are only exempt if:
- they have remained at sea before returning to a New Zealand port
- there have been no crew changes at sea
- there has been no contact with other ships or crew members.
If a person has symptoms when in harbour
When a ship is in harbour, the Master must inform the local Medical Officer of Health or a Health Protection Officer if any person on board may have a notifiable infectious disease. This applies even after the vessel has been issued with pratique.
- Duty of master of vessel in harbour as to infectious disease - New Zealand Legislationexternal link
- Notifiable infectious diseases - New Zealand Legislationexternal link
Guidance for when a quarantinable disease is suspected or known to be onboard a vessel
The Vessel Management Framework is used for international maritime arrivals when a quarantinable disease is suspected or known to be onboard a vessel. It is a cross agency and industry tool used to manage health risks while minimising interference with the flow of people and goods.