All Aboard! Sending our worldly possessions across the Pacific to New Zealand!

Kia Ora and Howdy! Its Madison here Queen of the South Co. Here to bring you some tips and personal insight on immigrating and living in Aotearoa New Zealand. (As always, I am not a licensed immigration adviser, so this is just my personal experience, not official advice ;)

Today I'll share my experience on loading shipping container full of our stuff and sending it across the pacific ocean.

 

Here's the Rodeo-Roundup of the specifications, costs and timeline:

Specifications:

• Company: U-Haul
• Service: U-Box
• Internal Dimensions in inches: 95 long x 56 width x 83.5 height
• Capacity: 257 cubic feet
• Weight: Up to 2,000 lbs. (Ours was about 1,600 lbs)

Timeline:

• Door to door - Just under 3 months (not including the time we took to pack it)

• Dropped of at our house in Austin Texas on April 4th, 2023 for us to start packing
• Picked up from our house April 20th, 2023
• Shipped out from port May 21st, 2023 from Texas to New Zealand
• Arrived June 28th, 2023 in New Zealand
• Was Quarantine inspected July 4th, 2023
• Delivered to our house in NZ Monday July 10th, 2023

Costs:

• Grand total: $6,948 USD (rounded up)

• $119.95 USD - paid to Uhaul when dropped off at our house to pack
• $6,589.00 USD - paid to Uhaul when shipped off to NZ from the Texas port
• $67.52 NZD - paid to Conroy Removals for “access charge” regarding steps in backyard
• $328.43 NZD - paid to Conroy Removals Quarantine inspection fee $6,708.95 USD - total paid to U-Haul
• $395.95 NZD - total paid in NZ to Conroy removals (roughly $239 USD)

Here are some need to know's of what you are going to have to do since this is a DIY service:

• You will need to pack the Ubox yourself (or hire a moving company to do it for you)
• Clean all your items in accordance to New Zealand's customs requirements (More on that below!)
• Label all boxes and items (ie "001 - shoes", "002 - framed photos) and have those labels correspond to your inventory lists that Uhaul will give you.
• Fill out two provided inventory lists. One with item values (for insurance purposes) and one without (for the movers upon arrival to reference)
• Complete the provided NZCS 218 form
• Lock your ubox with a key and then provide the key to the arrival port in New Zealand (more on that later)
• A NZ based company will bring a truck full of your items to your door in NZ and will unload them inside, but won't unpack things.

Here's a look at a couple of the forms and informational documents Ubox provide to us:

General information on the Ubox

Inventory / Packing list we filled out. Ours was 4 pages long and went up to item #82.

Even though the Ubox is relatively small (at just under 8 feet long, 5.5 feet wide and 7.5 feet tall), we fit a decent amount of things in it! On the website, they estimate that each Ubox holds about a room to a room-and-a-half of household goods. We fit more than that, but we also got pretty creative with how we stuffed---I mean packed--items and more than once had to begrudgingly pulled everything out and started over for a better fit!

For reference, when we contacted a bigger company for a quote, they estimated we would need a 20 foot container! (I knew they were wrong which is what made me decide to do it myself.)

(We fit more than was estimated, but we also lived in a cute little 1930's bungalow. Not a Texas sized McMansion!)

Below is a list of everything we fit into the crate! 

Larger household items:

• 1 king sized bed + bed frame 
• Several bags of blankets and pillows
• 2 sofas (vintage - so more on the petite side)
• 2 vintage accent chairs
• 1 very large and extremely heavy antique solid wooden butcher block used as our coffee table
• 3 floor lamps (and 2 of them have massive fringed shades. oops)
• 1 ceramic and marble side table
• 3 rugs and 1 rug pad (one large area rug, one cowhide rug and one hallway rug runner)
• 1 office chair
• 2 ceiling light fixtures
• Some artwork and household accessories
• 1 large wooden sign (for our store from when we did an antique fair)
• 1 antique cast iron fireplace surround & insert
• 1 antique wooden Catholic prayer kneeler form Mexico 
• 1 large antique map stand (think really large coat rack sized item with a cast iron base)

Outdoor / equipment type items:

• 1 air compressor
• 1 snowboard
• 2 long boards
• 1 queen air mattress (you could always bring one on the plane if you're shipping your mattress!)
• A bunch of my hiking gear and backpacks
• 1 step ladder
• 1 big plastic bin of tools (that I hand-cleaned within an inch of their life and they didn’t even open it)
• 1 baby bike trailer
• 3 helmets
• 2 river tubes
• Disc golf items (discs and bags)
• 1caddy for a kayak/paddle board (no paddle boards though. they had to be sold because they wouldn’t fit with the Ubox length.)

Other items:

• Lots of clothing (Like over 8 large vacuum sealed bags...I collect vintage dresses and purses)
• Shoes
• Lots of coat hangers
• Extra blankets and towels
• Pretty much all kitchen items (pots, pans, dishes, utensils, a few small powered items like a coffee grinder)
• Boxes of books
• Box of keepsakes
• Turn table and records
• Antique decorative lap harp
• Kitchen trash can
• Spin mop and bucket
• Vacuum (BRING A BROOM! New Zealand brooms are not great...)
• Bathroom stool
• Computer monitor 
• Small table top lamp

Some other items that I knew we would want with us on arrival were brought in luggage on the plane. Each international traveler with Air NZ is allowed 3 checked bags, up to 23 kg each (which costs extra). Plus a personal item like a backpack or purse and one carry on sized bag. We did all this in addition to the baby items allowed such as car seats and strollers which equaled us having a ton of items to navigate with through the airport! 

Some Packing Tips:

• Vacuum sealed bags: A big space saver was using vacuum seal bags which we then wrapped in saran wrap. We used these for clothing, bedding, anything soft really. I bought quite a lot and used them in the container and for the clothing we brought with us on our flight. 
• Boxes vs bags: We used boxes for our breakable items, but the majority of our items were either individually wrapped in saran wrap (like our sofa) or we used vacuum sealed bags. This helped us stuff every corner of the container in a way that boxes wouldn't have fit. For our flight, we used these amazing Dimpa Bags from Ikea. (I placed a vaccum bag inside the Dimpa bag, stuffed it with clothing, then started to slowly shrink it down and fit more clothing in as it went!)
• Using all available space. This was our secret for fitting so much into the container. Do this at your own risk however, because you're supposed to keep all "like items" together. As an example, this doesn't mean you can't have multiple different bags of clothing, it just means don't mix clothing and pots and pans in one bag or box. We pretty much stuck to this... but as an example, the bottom of our sofa was hallow, so we stuffed the seat cushions up under it and also packed it full of items. Same thing for a side table that had a removable top tray and a room inside the base. Anything that had a hallow space got utilized. (I even put items into the tiny area in the antique prayer kneeler where the rosary beads go! haha!)
• No loose items thrown in: Other than large items like a sofa or mattress, they really want everything to be in an individual bag or box. I got a little in the gray area with my coat hangers, since I had a lot. I tied them all together with string and then put a tag onto it with its appropriate inventory number. 
• Electronics to keep vs. toss: New Zealand uses a much higher 230/240V compared to the standard 110/120V in the US. Things without motors like lamps, record players and hair straighteners (although heat items can be iffy) can still be used with simple wall socket converters! We brought several over and I'm so glad we did. We're about 3 years in and all the items we use with wall plug converters are still working just fine. If I were to do it again, I would pick a less chunky model as the NZ outlets have that funny little on/off outlet switch, that the wider plug converters sometimes block. If you're trying to use something that generates a lot of heat or uses a motor like a plug in breast-pump, coffee grinder or hair dryer, you might want to either leave it behind, or use a step down converter. That's just the layman's general rule of thumb, but it's always best to check your specific item. I still brought several items that need a step down converter, and I'm really glad I did. Breast pumps can be expensive here, and since I had already received a free one (thanks First Lady Michelle Obama!), it was definitely worth it to me to buy a cheap converter, even though they're a little heavy and chunky. Now it lives in my kitchen with my US milk frother plugged in! If you have a vacuum that plugs in to charge the battery, but operates cordless, this can be easily used with just a wall converter!
• Keep items that might be checked at the front: There are certain biosecurity risk items that will most likely be checked at the port (see bit about biosecurity below). Christmas items are one of those (for risk of pine cones / dried food or plant items). Because of this, I chose not to bring anything Christmas related things. Many people do bring what Christmas items are allowed and it ends up fine! Other things that might be checked are any outdoor or camping equipment, vacuums, bicycles, tools, that sort of thing. 
• Add moisture absorbers / desiccants: Since the containers are crossing the ocean for long periods of time / sitting at a humid ports, there is the risk of moisture getting in and ruining your items. I added little desiccant sachets into boxes and bags, and I also got 4 moisture absorbing "buckets" to place in the corners of the container and we didn't have any issues! 
• Wrap your items well: Unless you hire movers, its up to you to wrap all your items really well. We packed the container very securely, but by the end of the journey, things get moved and taken out and it unfortunately doesn't all stay in there exactly as you placed it. Things get taken out for biosecurity checks, and in our case, everything was transferred into a big moving van (somewhat haphazardly unfortunately) to then be delivered to our house in NZ. We only had one small lamp break (Art deco!), but I was able to repair it. This part is completely up to you, but the more packing/bubble wrap you use, the less space you have. So there's definitely a balance to be struck if you want to fit as much as possible, but obviously want everything in one piece! Uhaul has some good resources on how to pack containers here! 
• Go the extra mile on documentation: This can be great for official and personal reference. We were too vague on one bag that we just labeled as "outdoor sports items". Thankfully, I had taken a picture of the inside of the bag and was able to detail all items that were inside when asked for further clarification. You'll want to do this with items that are likely to get checked, or boxes that are filled with non-specific like-items. For instance, a bag of clothing or dishes probably doesn't need to be further detailed. But something like "keepsakes" or "Holiday decor" could use a little more detail. 

• 

Biosecurity:

This is a major factor in what you can and cannot bring into your container. When in doubt, you can always email the MPI (Ministry for Primary Industries) with a picture / description of your item in question and they'll get back to you with an answer! 

• Email: info@mpi.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 00 83 33 

In general however, here are some of the items you're going to want to ditch:

• Anything plant related. This means live plants, dried plants, plant seeds, pinecones...etc. Treated/processed "plant" items like a papyrus paper notebook or cotton clothing are good.
• Animal related items. This doesn't mean things like a cowhide rug or decorative sheepskin throw (both of which I brought, but emailed them about first!). It also doesn't mean you can't bring Nanna's fur coat she left you. Its more like bee-keeping equipment, a bird's nest, actual meat, raw beeswax... basically anything you picked up outside. "Raw" or "untreated" items are a no-no.
• Wicker, bamboo or rattan items. This one was rough for me. I sold my 1970's rattan room divider which broke my heart, because it was just too iffy. I did "risk-it-for-the-biscuit" with my retro wicker purses with bamboo handles. I figured these would be okay since both the wicker and bamboo handles were coated with a lacquer, and it ended up being fine in the end. Things like baskets and sisal rugs you might want to ditch though. (a worry is bugs might be living in them)
• Wooden items. This one trips up people a lot. I brought a ton of wooden in the container and these were all fine and not flagged as they were treated wood. The issue is they don't want any bugs or seeds in the wood. So your Pottery Barn bed frame is gonna be just fine. What they don't want is raw drift wood, sticks, coconut shells, basically anything unprocessed. 
• Rocks in general are okay, as long as they have been cleaned of any dirt / biologic material. Just to be safe, we sprayed some of the ones we brought with a clear shiny spray paint. I did however have to leave behind a large piece of coral I had, as this is illegal to import. 
• Anything obviously dangerous such as explosives, matches, or fuel.
• Batteries. These cannot go in your container OR your checked baggage on the airplane. So, that meant got pulled aside at airport security for a suspicious carry on suitcase filled with batteries, but once we explained we were immigrating they understood!
• New items. This one is also a little confusing. You might come across some things saying that if there is anything new in the container, you'll get charged import duty taxes. Now, having been through this myself now, I think they only flag things that look suspicious, like you're importing to sell. Think 100 boxes of brand new Nike shoes, or a box full of iphones. I went overboard though and anything new or unused we were bringing (which is great because you don't have to clean it!), I purposely scuffed up and took it out of the box. A little silly, but I didn't want to pay extra haha! 

When in doubt, unprocessed = throw it out. 

If biosecurity does find something that is not allowed, there are unfortunately fines. This includes unintentional stowaways such as stink bugs that might have flown in when the container doors were open. Fumigation / disposal costs can vary, but a friend recently had some brown stink bugs that were found and they got charged an additional $5,000 USD. 

 What to clean:

The main idea is to remove any dirt and/or organic material (i.e. spider webs, grass, food particles, mold...). Rust is generally okay (unless you're trying to import a car), but if its easy enough to do, it is nice to have all items looking clean. 

If you have a shirt that has dried, caked-on food, that needs to be cleaned for sure. If you have pants with a wine stain, that's fine. If an item is just scuffed in general, that shouldn't be an issue. If its scuffed with dirt streaks, definitely clean it off! Remember, this is biosecurity, not Martha Stewart inspecting your stuff. All items need to be in a overall clean state, but you're going to want to pay special care to items that customs will most likely be checking. This will be any holiday decorations, outdoor items/equipment, and cleaning equipment like vacuums. I went crazy overboard on cleaning and although it might have been a bit unnecessary, it worked out in the end because I didn't get charged a fee for anything! 

There's really no "special method" for cleaning your stuff. Just whatever gets the dirt off and is easiest for you! Although spraying it with disinfectant is a good idea, you're still going to have to manually remove any dirt and debris, not just "disinfect" it. My go to was throwing things into our shower bath and taking a scrubber to them or letting them soak if it was really caked on there. I did this with our tent, stroller, disc golf items, river tubes, you name it! I'm not going to lie - by the end I was completely exhausted from all the cleaning! Its a good idea to start on this as early as you can so its not all back-logged at the end! 

Other options instead of using a container:

• Start fresh. Lots of people choose to just "start fresh" and only bring luggage on the plane with them. As with anything, there are pros and cons to this and where you're personally at in your life will determine if this is a good option for you. Although at first glance this might look like the "cheaper" option, keep in mind you'll still need furniture and household items when you start your new life in NZ. I'll be making a post in the future that takes a closer look into this.
• Full service 20 and 40 foot containers. Quite a lot of people go with these options. You'll have more room and someone will do most everything for you, eliminating a lot of the work. This will obviously cost you more. Additionally, even though these people are "professionals", at the end of the day you're the one who's gonna care more. I'm definitely the type to think "if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself." Plenty of people have good experiences with these full service companies. However, you do hear lots of stories of things not packed well, boxes un-labeled and inventory lists not filled out (I'm not NOT saying it was the one named after what a Queen wears on their head... 👑) 
• ShipGo: This one is a really popular option! This is a service that ships your items for you so you don't have to take them on the plane. This is a good in-between of wanting to take more than will fit on the plane, but not enough to justify a container. They do luggage, boxes and trunks, and sports equipment. 
• Storage unit back home. Perhaps not ideal, but still a valid option! You'll hear lots advice on not leaving any loose ends to mess with back home when you immigrate. Having been through the enormous stress of moving internationally, I agree that this would not have been a good option for me personally. But you know yourself and your situation best! Maybe you don't know if this move is forever. Maybe you know you'll be back and will have more time to sort out your stuff later. 

Random tid bits!

What address to put for your shipping container's destination? Sine we were waiting to get a place after looking at rental houses in person (highly recommend!), other than our short term airbnb, we didn't have any housing lined up. We just put the address of my husband's new job as a place holder, and were able to change it easily once we found a rental. 

Get a lock and key and don't loose the key! I kept fairly good notes on all things having to do with our move, and I don't remember ever coming across anything that said we needed a lock and key. When the Uhaul person came to collect our Ubox, they said the couldn't take it away until we had locked it! 😳 

Thank goodness we randomly had a lock and key from our shed that we hadn't packed away! I also just assumed the inspectors at the port would use bolt cutters to open any locked containers, but they emailed us and requested that we drop the key off, which thankfully wasn't that far of a drive for us. 

Check off your items as they're unloaded. I did not do this, but several days later when we were unpacking, I couldn't find my binoculars anywhere. We also found a box that wasn't ours and assumed an accidental swap had occurred! Definitely not ideal, but mistakes do happen. They came to pick up the random box and thankfully found ours as well! 

Thanks for reading, y'all!

Make sure to check out Queen of the South Co. for vintage treasures from the wilds of New Zealand!

Cheers!
- Madison