This Content Is Only For Subscribers
The biosecurity component of New Zealand’s Border Processing Levy has been reduced by 30 percent for most arriving travellers, lowering costs for international visitors and New Zealanders returning home.
Announcing the change on Sunday, February 1, 2026, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says the levy for incoming air passengers has dropped from $16.92 to $12.03.
Hoggard says the levy was increased after COVID-19 to help cover border costs and rebuild biosecurity operations, but faster-than-expected recovery in air travel has allowed those costs to be paid off sooner.
“With air travel recovering faster than expected, those costs are now paid off, meaning we can lower the levy while keeping strong biosecurity controls in place,” Hoggard says.
The Border Processing Levy funds frontline biosecurity measures including x-ray screening, detector dogs and other border protections designed to prevent environmental and economic harm.
Hoggard says easing costs for travellers does not reduce the importance of biosecurity investment.
“Farmers, growers, foresters and fishers are the backbone of this economy, which makes the biosecurity controls funded by the levy critical for New Zealanders’ standard of living,” he says.
The government has also set aside funding from the levy to support the ongoing modernisation of border biosecurity systems. This includes investment in new border technology, additional detector dogs and the continued rollout of digital processing tools.
Planned upgrades include further development of the New Zealand Traveller Declaration and the introduction of smarter passenger processing systems and new x-ray technology.
