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Many travellers entering New Zealand carry medication with them for personal use during their stay.
However, it can be difficult to navigate and understand the multi-layered regulations on bringing such items into the country.
Visitors are expected to declare some medication, while others are permitted without inspection.
Here's a primer on what you need to know when bringing medication into New Zealand.
What is considered "personal use"?
According to Medsafe, medication brought into New Zealand by an individual for themselves or immediate family members is considered personal use under existing regulations.
Medication shipped from overseas suppliers to an individual in New Zealand is treated the same way.
Medsafe says the medication must not be resold to a third party.
Can I bring medication into New Zealand for a friend?
Current regulations prohibit travellers from bringing medication into the country for a friend or third party.
What medication can I bring into the country?
Provided all relevant conditions are met, regulations allow dietary supplements, over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs and controlled drugs to be brought into New Zealand.
How much medication am I allowed to bring?
Customs regulations place quantity restrictions on some medication that is brought into New Zealand.
Travellers are allowed to bring in up to six months' supply of oral contraceptives, three months' supply of prescription medications and up to one month's supply of controlled drugs.
What else do I need to bring prescription medication?
Prescription medication must be declared upon arrival, accompanied by either a prescription or a statement from a medical practitioner in English.
All prescription medication should be in its original, unopened packaging.
Anyone carrying more than three months' supply of medication must declare the items at the border.
What about controlled drugs?
All controlled drugs must also be declared upon arrival, accompanied by either a prescription or a statement from a medical practitioner in English.
All controlled drugs should be in their original, unopened packaging.
Anyone unsure whether medication is classified as a controlled drug is advised to consult the classification database on Medsafe's website.
What about cold medication?
Medicine containing pseudoephedrine can be purchased over the counter without a prescription from local pharmacies in New Zealand.
However, such medication is classified as a controlled drug for import purposes, meaning travellers can only bring one month's supply.
Pseudoephedrine is effective in relieving nasal congestion caused by colds or allergies, making it a common ingredient in many cold medicines.
However, the substance may be misused to produce illegal drugs such as methamphetamine.
Customs New Zealand says medicine containing pseudoephedrine must "physically accompany the traveller".
Such medication can only be brought into New Zealand for personal use and cannot be carried for family or friends.
What's more, medication containing pseudoephedrine cannot be imported online.
Are any restrictions placed on diabetic medication and equipment?
Diabetics are advised to carry a certificate from a medical practitioner in English to bring insulin and diabetic equipment into New Zealand.
Diabetic equipment is not restricted under aviation security rules and may be carried in hand luggage.
Containers to keep insulin cool can also be carried in hand luggage provided they are supported by written instructions in the medical certificate.
Can I buy medicine online?
Yes, but only for personal use.
Anyone importing prescription medication or controlled drugs needs to obtain a prescription issued by a licensed New Zealand healthcare professional (such as a doctor or pharmacist).
Imported medication may be inspected by Customs officials until the accompanying documentation can be verified.
Are some medicines banned altogether?
Some medicines, particularly some Chinese herbal products, have been found to contain undeclared prescription medicines by Medsafe.
It is illegal to import a product adulterated with a prescription medicine, and if these are seized by Medsafe at the border, they will be destroyed.
The most common products that are adulterated are weight-loss products that contain sibutramine or products to help with sexual dysfunction that contain sildenafil.
Anyone unsure about the classification of any medication they wish to bring into New Zealand is advised to contact Medsafe directly via an online form.
Can I bring traditional Chinese medicines into New Zealand?
Traditional Chinese medicines will be prohibited if they contain adulterated medicines as outlined above.
Louise Ye, outreach advisor at the Department of Conservation, says traditional Chinese medicines may also contain ingredients from species protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Anyone bringing in traditional Chinese medicines that contain ingredients on the CITES list will need to apply for a CITES permit in advance.
Medication that is found to contain ingredients on the CITES list that arrives at the border without a permit will be confiscated and destroyed, and travellers fined or prosecuted.
Anyone unsure of whether ingredients in the traditional Chinese medicines are included on the CITES list is advised to check relevant Department of Conservation lists in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and English.
