Did you need to show return ticket when you got to NZ
 

Hi,

I will fly to NZ on Tuesday (bike will follow on Wednesday).
I do not need a visa if I stay less than 3 months in NZ.
Question: Did you need to show return ticket in the immigration?
Of course I do not have this ticket yet, so I am just wondering if I should book one now...

Hi Hemuli,

you should check with the airline company, as it is their decision if they let you onboard or not.

When I went to Colombia few years ago, I bought a one way ticket (from London via Madrid) with Avianca, on their website. No problem to buy it online and no problem to get to Madrid.

But when we got to Madrid, at the boarding gate, we were refused entry to the plane, because we did not have a flight out! Showing them the docs of the shipping company to prove we were going to exit by land was useless, they wanted a plane ticket out.

They said it was the rules in Colombia. That is probably not true, I think the fact is, if you are refused entry to the final destination, the airline has to bring you back.

Don't get caught out, check with the airline direct.

If you do "need" a return airticket, just buy a full price/fully refundable one way ticket home and, once through immigration, get it refunded.

According to this: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rd.../0/INZ1018.pdf & this: Can I enter NZ on a one way ticket? - Immigration NZ Knowledgebase

You do need a ticket out if entering under the Visa waiver rules.

Cheers
Clint

Hmmm, I think I will do what Chris recommended. Buy a ticket and cancel it once through the immigration...

Exactly as Chris said, they will not let you leave Aus without a return ticket. Just get the phone number of the airline and cancil once in NZ it takes normaly 3 weeks to get the refund

Hi Hemuli,

where have you booked your full refundable ticket?

As we have to do the same in around two weeks it would be interesting to know!

Thank you! :thumbup1:

Cheers from rainy Brisbane
Bea & Helle

Hi Bea and Helle,

I just booked Quantas tickets and made sure that they were fully refundable.
I got my bike out today, so today I try to write a short story what to do in NZ to get the bike out (my story is regarding airfreight, but part of it will be usable for you (like customs, WoF and ACC-levy).
They checked the ticket in NZ immigration, you should also print out your bank account statement which shows that you can stay here (presuming that you have money in your bank account :) ). But, more coming tonight :)

I did a quick list of things how I got my bike to NZ. Steps can be found from Process to get bike from Sydney to Christchurch (airfreight) | Where is Hemuli?