Pocket Knife 🇳🇿 New Zealand
Pocket Knife import prohibited
Can I bring Pocket Knife into New Zealand?
Pocket Knife import prohibited
Required at the destination customs authority
Full details
Pocket knives are prohibited in carry-on baggage on commercial flights worldwide. In checked baggage, most airlines permit them, and in most countries personal pocket knives are legal to own. However, the UK bans carrying any knife with a blade over. Enforcement in New Zealand carries fines from NZD 5,000 to NZD 500,000 and imprisonment up to 7 years in aggravated cases under Customs and Excise Act 2018 s.388; Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.
PENALTIES
- Fine: 5000–500000 NZD
- Imprisonment up to 84 months
- Criminal penalty
Active — Customs actively enforces this rule.
Leaving New Zealand with pocket knife
A personal pocket knife faces no export formality from New Zealand when packed in checked baggage — blades of any size are prohibited from cabin baggage under aviation security rules worldwide. The practical constraints are destination-side: public-carry laws vary sharply (blade-length limits, locking-blade bans, and "good reason" requirements in countries such as the UK), and some jurisdictions treat certain knife types (automatic, gravity, butterfly) as prohibited weapons at import.
Do not bring pocket knife to this country. Penalties may be severe. If unsure, declare on arrival — declared goods at worst attract duty or surrender, while undeclared goods found in screening are seized and fined.
This page covers destination customs rules in New Zealand. Whether you can carry pocket knife through security, in carry-on, or in checked baggage depends on airline and screening rules — see air travel rules.
Related rules
Pocket Knife rules in other countries
Pocket Knife
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Folding blades under 3 inches permitted in public. Locking knives and longer blades restricted.
Pocket Knife
🇦🇺 Australia
Non-locking folding knives generally permitted
Pocket Knife
🇯🇵 Japan
Blades over 6cm prohibited under Firearms and Swords Control Law
Pocket Knife
🇸🇬 Singapore
Offensive weapons prohibited under Arms & Explosives Act
Pocket Knife
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Bladed weapons prohibited under Federal Penal Code
Pocket Knife
🇺🇸 United States
Legal to bring; TSA prohibits in carry-on