If you want to import and hold a “new” species of animal for public display, conservation and research purposes you need approval from us and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). We look at whether the animal itself may cause harm to New Zealand while MPI assesses the potential biosecurity risks from the pests and diseases the imported animal may carry.
There are some animals that are not allowed in New Zealand at all—even in a zoo. These include beavers and prairie dogs, all venomous reptiles, venomous fish or venomous invertebrates
Below is a list of animals that are already approved for public display, conservation or research purposes in New Zealand zoos.
"Deemed zoo animals" are species of zoo animals that, prior to July 1998, were regulated under the Zoological Gardens Regulations 1977 and were subsequently deemed to be approved under the HSNO Act.
Read a list of all animals approved for public display in zoos or for conservation purposes (pdf, 347 kb)
Some animals approved for public display in New Zealand
From top left to bottom: gorilla, red panda, white rhino, hippopotamus, snow leopard, grey kangaroo, tiger and Morpho peleides (Photograph taken by Stephen Jaquiery)
