TIP: read the fine print very carefully

Biosecurity NZ investigators have found some shoppers often mistakenly believe they're buying from a local company when they read the currency is in NZ dollars or the domain name ends in ‘co.nz.'

If you're considering buying from an online seller, carefully read the website's 'about' and shipping details to ensure you know where the plants or seeds are coming from. They've found some buyers only realise the goods will be imported when a payment has been made. Even if they cancel the order, often the goods are still shipped.

In 2018, a home gardener bought seeds online from a website with a New Zealand domain name, but the seeds were dispatched from Greece. Contact details on the website were for an Invercargill business with no association with the seller or any knowledge its contact details were being used.

Fortunately, the seeds were listed on the MPI database and passed inspection. However, a search of the website revealed seeds listed for sale that are banned in NZ, and species that require post-entry quarantine. The website administrators removed the affected listings and the fake contact details at

MPI's request. The domain name provider was also notified.

Biosecurity NZ recommends purchasing seeds and plants from reputable New

Zealand companies rather than buying from international suppliers.