New Zealand will reduce the combined border-processing levies charged for each cruise passenger by NZ$19.91 from 1 July 2027, following a review of forecast costs and traveller numbers.
The Customs levy for a passenger arriving by cruise ship will fall from NZ$27.14 to NZ$7.20. When the separate Ministry for Primary Industries biosecurity levy is included, the total arrival charge will decrease from NZ$37.72 to NZ$17.78 per passenger.
The Customs departure levy will rise slightly, from NZ$0.68 to NZ$0.71. This leaves a combined arrival-and-departure charge of NZ$18.49, compared with NZ$38.40 under the rates applying until 30 June 2027.
All of the published figures exclude New Zealand Goods and Services Tax.
New cruise levy rates from July 2027
| Charge | Until 30 June 2027 | From 1 July 2027 |
| Customs arrival levy | NZ$27.14 | NZ$7.20 |
| MPI biosecurity arrival levy | NZ$10.58 | NZ$10.58 |
| Total arrival levies | NZ$37.72 | NZ$17.78 |
| Customs departure levy | NZ$0.68 | NZ$0.71 |
| Combined arrival and departure | NZ$38.40 | NZ$18.49 |
The net reduction across the arrival and departure charges is therefore NZ$19.91 for each cruise passenger. The new rates will remain in place until 30 June 2030.
Why New Zealand is reducing the charge
Customs Minister Casey Costello announced the reduction on 16 October 2026. She said the levy system was working as intended and that travellers should benefit when forecast costs support a lower rate.
The Border Processing Levy recovers the cost of Customs work including risk assessment, passenger processing, investigations and compliance. It also supports the safe and efficient movement of people across New Zealand’s air and sea border.
New Zealand Customs said the rates are reviewed periodically to reflect expected passenger volumes and the cost of providing border services. The agency expects its levies to recover NZ$124.3 million in processing costs during the 2026–27 financial year.
Customs levy and biosecurity levy are separate
The headline reduction applies principally to the Customs component of the charge. The MPI biosecurity levy for arriving cruise passengers remains NZ$10.58.
This distinction matters because the arriving-passenger Customs rate of NZ$7.20 is not the complete amount associated with entering New Zealand by cruise ship. The combined arrival levy from July 2027 will be NZ$17.78 before GST.
For most passengers, border levies are incorporated into the advertised or final cost of a cruise ticket rather than collected individually at the port.
What the reduction means for cruising
The lower charge reduces the border-processing cost attached to every cruise passenger visiting New Zealand. Across a ship carrying several thousand guests, the difference can amount to tens of thousands of New Zealand dollars for a single voyage.
Whether passengers see the reduction as a separately itemised saving will depend on how each cruise line prices its holidays and displays taxes, fees and port expenses. The announcement does not require operators to reduce advertised fares by an identical amount.
The government has provided advance notice so that cruise lines and the wider travel industry can incorporate the new rates into itineraries and pricing for the 2027–28 season.
Key figure: From 1 July 2027, the combined Customs and biosecurity arrival levy for a cruise passenger will be NZ$17.78 before GST. Including the NZ$0.71 departure levy, the total is NZ$18.49 — NZ$19.91 below the present combined charge.
Frequently asked questions
How much is New Zealand cutting the cruise passenger levy?
The combined arrival-and-departure reduction is NZ$19.91 per cruise passenger before GST.
What will the new total charge be?
The combined Customs and biosecurity charges will total NZ$18.49: NZ$17.78 on arrival and NZ$0.71 on departure.
When will the new levy rates begin?
They take effect on 1 July 2027 and are scheduled to apply until 30 June 2030.
Why are some reports referring to a NZ$7.20 levy?
NZ$7.20 is the new Customs arrival levy alone. An additional NZ$10.58 MPI biosecurity levy means the total arrival charge will be NZ$17.78 before GST.
Are the published amounts inclusive of GST?
No. New Zealand Customs states that the listed levy rates exclude Goods and Services Tax.
Will cruise passengers pay the levy directly?
Usually not. Customs says the levies are included in the cost of an airline or cruise ticket for most travellers.