2026.07.31

New Zealand Fishing Trip Preparation: The Complete Guide to Licences, NZeTA, NZTD, and Packing List

Yagichan

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Hey everyone, this is Yagi!

So far I’ve been sharing my New Zealand North Island fishing trip reports, but this time I want to walk you through the entry, licensing, and biosecurity procedures you absolutely need to sort out before you go fishing!

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Getting Your NZeTA (Electronic Travel Authority)

Getting Your NZeTA (Electronic Travel Authority)

You need to apply for an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) and pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL).

Source: https://nzeta.immigration.govt.nz/

NZeTA Application Guide / About Entering New Zealand

There are apps for both ios,android — just download it and enter your passport and credit card details to finish. Approval can take up to 72 hours, so it’s best to apply with plenty of time before departure. This is a required step for entry, so don’t forget it if you’re arranging your own trip.

Cost
- NZeTA application fee: App $17* / Online $23　　　　　　　　　　*The app is $6 cheaper and lets you check your status from your phone, so we recommend getting the app.
- International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL): $100　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　used to fund tourism infrastructure and protect the natural environment.

You can check your application status on the official site. To check, you’ll need the NZeTA reference number issued when you applied (labeled “NZeTA reference”) and your passport number, so make a note of them so you don’t forget.

Reference site: https://www.amnet-jpn.com/nzeta/

Submitting Your NZTD (New Zealand Traveller Declaration)

You submit information relating to travel, customs, immigration, and biosecurity.

Source: https://www.travellerdeclaration.govt.nz

Submit your declaration using the ios,android app, or online. There’s no difference in cost between the app and the online version for NZTD, so use whichever is easier for you. If you’re planning to visit more than once, it’s handy to have the app installed!

Information you’ll need to provide

Passport details

Your contact address in New Zealand (if you’re staying at more than one place, use the address of the first place you’ll stay in New Zealand)

Your travel history for the past 30 days

Flight or voyage details

Information about the luggage you’re bringing into New Zealand (checked baggage, carry-on, etc.)

Your immigration status, including visa or NZeTA (if required).

Fishing gear, tents, food, and the like must always be declared. Declaring everything correctly ahead of time can shorten your wait at the inspection point! If you’re travelling by plane, you can submit your declaration from 24 hours before your trip to New Zealand begins, and it must be completed by the time you reach passport control in New Zealand. It’s reassuring to get it done during your wait at the airport just before departure! For more detail, check the official site.

A Japanese-language PDF guide is available here.

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Buying a Fishing Licence

You can buy a licence to fish anywhere in New Zealand from Fish&Game New Zealand.

From the non-resident licence options, choose:

Adult Fishing Licence Whole Season – Non Resident ($270) — annual licence
Adult Fishing Licence Day – Non Resident ($38) — day licence

You can pay by credit card.

If you’re fishing in the Taupo district on the North Island, you’ll need a DOC licence. Note that a Fish&Game licence doesn’t cover you there.

From the non-resident licence options, choose:

Adult Season Licence 2024/2025 (NR) ($169) — annual licence
Adult Week Licence 2024/2025 (NR) ($89) — weekly licence
Adult 24 Hour Licence 2024/2025 (NR) ($23) — day licence

You can pay by credit card.

It’s a good idea to take a screenshot of your licence once you’ve bought it, so you can show it even in areas with no signal.

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Cleaning Your Gear

New Zealand puts enormous effort into protecting its environment, so it’s important not to bring anything from Japan that could disrupt the local ecosystem! Make sure to clean your fishing gear thoroughly before you bring it in.

Items to be especially careful with:

Shoes, waders
Tents, hiking boots
Hiking backpacks, fishing vests

It’s precisely because this place protects its natural environment so thoroughly that you can feel such incredible natural energy there!

Once you’ve got this far, the trip should start to feel a lot more real. Navigating unfamiliar official sites and apps and looking things up as you go can take a fair bit of effort, but the preparation is always worth it — don’t give up, and see it through to the end!