Official sources · New Zealand

Is mad honey legal in New Zealand?

Do not order Nepal-origin mad honey for import into New Zealand. MPI reported intercepting Real Mad Honey parcels in April 2026 and said this product was not permitted to enter. Its honey biosecurity restrictions still apply when a seller ships from another country.

Sources checked 9 September 2026 · Mad Honey Finder Editorial

MPI has refused Nepal-origin mad honey imports

Read the linked authority guidance for the specific product and delivery method. Seller shipping claims do not establish import clearance.

What MPI intercepted

MPI’s April 2026 border newsletter reports three parcels of Real Mad Honey detected in international mail. They were sent from the Netherlands, while their labels identified Nepal as the honey’s origin. MPI said the product was not permitted to enter and that non-compliant honey must be sent out of New Zealand or destroyed.

MPI: The Border Space, Issue 67, April 2026 (page 9) (opens in a new tab)

Why the honey’s origin matters

MPI allows New Zealand-produced honey under packaging conditions and lists specified Pacific origins with certification requirements. Nepal and Turkey are not listed in that personal-import guidance. A different fulfillment country does not change the stated origin of the honey.

MPI: What food you can bring to New Zealand — Honey (opens in a new tab)

Before bringing or posting honey

Use MPI’s current guidance for your exact product and route, including postal orders. We have not established a compliant mad-honey import route or confirmed a local stockist. This page addresses the documented import restriction; it does not claim a separate universal possession offence.

MPI: Bringing goods into New Zealand (opens in a new tab)

Sources you can inspect

MPI: The Border Space, Issue 67, April 2026 (page 9) (opens in a new tab)
Official border report describing intercepted Real Mad Honey parcels and the requirement to reship or destroy non-compliant honey.
MPI: What food you can bring to New Zealand — Honey (opens in a new tab)
Permitted origins, packaging/documentation conditions and honey biosecurity guidance.
MPI: Bringing goods into New Zealand (opens in a new tab)
Guidance covers luggage, mail, personal goods and commercial shipments.

Check destination listing status Mad honey vs manuka

New Zealand: common questions

Is mad honey legal in New Zealand? +

MPI has explicitly refused Nepal-origin Real Mad Honey imports. Its April 2026 report said the product was not permitted to enter and described reshipment or destruction of non-compliant honey. This is an import finding, not a claim about every possible possession scenario.

Can I order mad honey from Europe to New Zealand? +

Shipping from Europe does not establish admissibility. The parcels in MPI’s April 2026 report came from the Netherlands but were labeled as Nepal-origin honey, and were not permitted to enter.

Can I bring a small jar of mad honey into New Zealand? +

Small size does not remove MPI’s honey-origin and biosecurity requirements. Nepal and Turkey are not among the origins listed in its personal honey-import guidance. Check MPI before bringing or posting the product.

Is manuka honey the same as mad honey? +

No. New Zealand manuka honey and grayanotoxin-containing mad honey are different honey categories. Permission for properly packaged New Zealand-origin honey does not establish permission for Nepal-origin mad honey.