Regulatory & compliance · International household goods

International: New Zealand

Liability for international sea carriage is governed by the Hague-Visby Rules, distinct from the domestic liability cap

Regulated byLiability for international sea carriage governed by the Hague-Visby Rules under the Maritime Transport Act 1994; liability for carriage that stays domestic (including multi-modal domestic legs) governed instead by the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

Liability for International Sea Carriage: Hague-Visby Rules: Yes. New Zealand gives the Hague-Visby Rules force of law via the Maritime Transport Act 1994, governing liability for loss or damage during international sea carriage; New Zealand has not adopted the Hamburg Rules or Rotterdam Rules. This displaces ordinary domestic liability for the international sea leg of a move.
Liability for Domestic Multi-Modal Carriage: Contract and Commercial Law Act: Yes. For carriage that stays domestic (by land, water, or air, or combinations), the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017, Part 5, applies instead, capping liability at NZ$2,000 per unit of goods lost or damaged, a different, generally lower cap than the Hague-Visby Rules’ Article 4 limits.
Claim Notification and Limitation Periods: Yes. Under the Hague-Visby Rules, claims for loss or damage generally have a 1-year limitation period. Under the Contract and Commercial Law Act, the carrier must be notified of loss or damage within 30 days, with a 1-year limitation period for the claim itself.

OverviewOverview & Scope

On liability, the applicable regime for an international New Zealand relocation depends on the mode and route: the Hague-Visby Rules govern international sea carriage under the Maritime Transport Act, while the Contract and Commercial Law Act’s own liability cap applies to carriage that stays domestic, including multi-modal domestic legs. Customers should ask which regime applies to their move and note the notification and limitation periods that follow from it.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers must:

Apply the liability regime that governs each leg by law (the Hague-Visby Rules for international sea carriage, or the Contract and Commercial Law Act for carriage that stays domestic) and keep contract terms consistent with it.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Customer practices

Contract terms consistent with the liability regime that applies by law to each leg (Hague-Visby Rules under the Maritime Transport Act 1994 for international sea carriage; Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017, Part 5, for carriage that stays domestic)Verified by AffirmationRequired