Couriering Goods To SHPG

Courier companies work on a door to door service. All shipments entering NZ are treated as commercial shipments which require the payment of Government Goods & Services Tax (12.5%) if and where applicable. The courier company will establish if the consignee has an "Importer Code” and will then request payment of GST/Duty before the goods are released.

In 90% of the cases the consignee is shown as the Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds (as this is the physical destination the goods go to). However, Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds are NOT the legal importer or consignee (by legal definition) (the goods do not belong to SHPG). Therefore in the absence of any guarantee of payment from SHPG the courier company must refer the matter back to the shipper to obtain authority to reverse the charges and this all takes time, sometimes days.

THE SHIPPER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CLAIM BACK THESE TAXES, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT A REGISTERED NZ COMPANY.

Please be aware that ALL shipments (via courier) are cleared Customs and Quarantine in Auckland where processing times can be very slow. As you can appreciate because these formalities are being undertaken at the other end of the country from SHPG (see map of New Zealand) any delays just extend the final delivery to the SHPG as cargo must first be sent to Christchurch for furtherance to SHPG.

If you use couriers as a matter of convenience because they offer a door to door service, please be aware that in reality you are being charged a premium rate for urgent service which you may not receive due to the above facts.