I come from a country that has very strict declaration laws. New Zealand is geographically isolated, which means that it is protected from a lot of the cross contamination that happens between neighbouring countries that share a land boarder. As a consequence of this, we have to be really strict with what we let into the country. Traveling between New Zealand and Australia I became very familiar with long customs arrival cards that are double sided and ask you details of where you’ve been recently, what you’ve been up to and a long list of questions about what you are carrying. When I bought my bike back from Cambodia, it was promptly taken off me and sprayed for a good half an hour. You’re not allowed to bring wooden souvenirs into the country.
When I first traveled to Hong Kong I tried to declare my fruit that I’d brought with me, as in New Zealand arriving with overseas fruit is a criminal offence. I walked over to the security guard, palms a little sweaty feeling anxious that I might be met with a hefty fine. The airport security guard in Hong Kong, with his intimidating gun, quickly prompted me “You have any drugs?”
“no”
“lots of money?”
“no”
“any guns?”
“no”
“well then byebye”
New Zealand is crazy strict with what we have to declare and it’s become kind of a point of difference for me between New Zealand and other countries. When I saw this informative picture, I thought it was really fascinating the odd things people try to get away with. I mean, four crocodiles… really?
Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments below
Anything To Declare? An infographic by the team at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk
