New Zealand

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

Goods Service Licence Required

Yes

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Any business delivering or carrying goods using a vehicle with a gross vehicle mass of 6,000kg or more, whether or not for hire or reward, needs a Goods Service Licence from Waka Kotahi. This threshold defines what counts as a “goods service” under the Land Transport Act, rather than functioning as a separate exemption tier. Where a mover subcontracts the transport, the carrier’s own licence covers the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold the licences that transport requires.

Certificate of Knowledge of Law and Practice

Yes, for Goods Service Licence holders. The licence holder, or a person in control of the service, must hold this certificate, demonstrating knowledge of the laws and practices relating to safe, efficient, and proper operation of a transport service.

NZBN Sharing

Part of the licence application. Applicants share their New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) with Waka Kotahi, which then accesses core business information (trading name, entity type, address) directly.

TSL Label Display

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Every vehicle operating under the Goods Service Licence must display a TSL label, allowing enforcement officers to identify which licence the vehicle is operating under.

Annual Fee

$120.12 per vehicle, payable annually for each vehicle operated under the TSL.

Licence Retention

Active use required. A TSL not used for more than 2 years can be removed from the register; Waka Kotahi will provide notice and an opportunity to confirm continued use before cancellation.

Consumer Protection: Two Statutes

Yes, working together. The Fair Trading Act 1986 prohibits misleading or deceptive conduct and unfair trade practices, enforced by the Commerce Commission. The Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 separately guarantees that services are provided with reasonable care and skill, fit for purpose, and completed in a reasonable time, and explicitly cannot be excluded or contracted out of in a consumer contract.

Industry Association

Limited. The New Zealand Overseas Movers Association (NZOMA) is the domestic trade body, but its membership is limited to FIDI-accredited international movers; no general domestic association covering local-only moves was identified. Membership is not a government licence and does not replace the requirements on this page.

OverviewOverview & Scope

New Zealand licenses goods services through a single national Goods Service Licence, issued by Waka Kotahi under the Land Transport Act 1998, without any regional variation to navigate. The licence is tied to the Land Transport Rule: Operator Licensing 2017, and requires the licence holder or a person in control of the service to hold a Certificate of Knowledge of Law and Practice. The licence attaches to the business operating the goods vehicles; where a mover subcontracts transport, the carrier’s own licence covers the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold it. On the consumer side, New Zealand runs two separate statutes rather than one consolidated law: the Fair Trading Act addresses misleading conduct and unfair practices, while the Consumer Guarantees Act separately and non-negotiably guarantees service quality.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Vehicles and operations (where the mover operates its own goods vehicles of 6,000kg GVM or more)

1. Apply for a Goods Service Licence through Waka Kotahi before operating, sharing the business’s NZBN as part of the application.
2. Ensure the licence holder or person in control of the service holds a Certificate of Knowledge of Law and Practice.
3. Display the TSL label on every vehicle operated under the licence.
4. Pay the annual TSL fee ($120.12 per vehicle) and keep the licence in active use, since inactivity beyond 2 years can lead to removal from the register.

Subcontracted transport

5. Where transport is subcontracted, use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

Customer practices

6. Ensure contracts and marketing comply with the Fair Trading Act 1986, avoiding misleading or deceptive conduct.
7. Ensure services meet the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993’s non-excludable guarantees around care, skill, and fitness for purpose.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• Goods Service Licence held from Waka KotahiWhere applicable (mover operates its own goods vehicles of 6,000kg GVM or more)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Certificate of Knowledge of Law and Practice held by the licence holder or a person in control of the serviceWhere applicable (mover operates its own goods vehicles of 6,000kg GVM or more)Verified by DocumentRequired

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

• TSL label displayed on each vehicle operated under the licenceWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles under a Goods Service Licence)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Customer practices

• Contracts and marketing comply with the Fair Trading Act 1986 (no misleading or deceptive conduct or unfair practices)Verified by AffirmationRequired
• Services comply with the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993’s non-excludable guarantees (reasonable care and skill, fit for purpose, reasonable time)Verified by AffirmationRequired