New Zealand custom charges?

[Maverick]

Hello all, I'm new the board.

I was wondering if any of you know anything about custom charges regarding New Zealand law.

I've been ordering snus online from swedish websites the last a year and half, or so, I've never been charged so far. The quantity of the packages were usually around 5, sometimes 10. (240g)

And recently, I've purchased 10 and the company put 2 extra in the package (so total of 288g), so to speak. And the custom service seems to have my package, asking me to pay 140NZD or so w/o tax.

I can't find any information regarding this, what happens if I do not pay, and what the limit is for importing...

I've found information regarding the arrival to NZ; click here and limit seems to be 250g (maybe this is why I got charged...?)

But that case is for passengers; is it different for importing?

I found another page from the same govt website; click here -- it says how much tax I have to pay per kilo. BUT I never paid before... so have they just missed my packages? Or...

Does anyone know?

Thanks in advance

[justintempler]

You've been lucky, most of your packages have slipped through undetected. Customs charges are ridiculous in New Zealand.

http://www.snusforum.org/forum/showt...hlight=zealand

[Maverick]

Oh jesus, seriously...? Haha...

I've found more information regarding that under passengers, but 250g is fine... but not for mail?? That's ridiculous...

What happens if I receive packages as "gifts" -- would that be safer? Haha...