Is it hard to import seeds?

NZgrowah

Member
Im in New Zealand. If you dont know where that is, then you obviously havnt heard of The Lord of the Rings Movies. lol

The problem I face growing in NZ isn't the fact is illegal, its that getting feminized seeds and exotic strains is next to impossible.

Mainly I just want to grow so I dont have to deal with the local gangs... nothing scarier than walking up to Black Power (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Power_(New_Zealand) ) or the Mongrel Mob's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongrel_Mob) headquarters to score some shitty bud.

I want to attempt to import my own feminized seeds from a seed bank.

My main problem is that NZ is an island, with custom checks at all seaports and airports.

If I were to import seeds, would they get detected by sniffer dogs or xrays at Customs?

Do seed banks ever disguise the package to contain something else if importing to countries that don't allow growing?

Thanks in advance for any advice or comments.
 

Jogro

Well-Known Member
There are any number of commercial outfits that make their living shipping seeds to shall we say "unfriendly" jurisdictions all over the globe.

As mentioned, the Attitude Seedbank (England) happens to be the biggest and one of the most popular ones. I know this outfit ships to Australia, and I'd be surprised if they did NOT also ship to New Zealand. You might simply call them on the phone (or send and email) and ask them specifically if they've had issues sending seeds to New Zealand.

In general, these places may disguise their shipments, and yes, they often (though not always) make it through customs. Whether or not they'll get through is going to depend on how good the customs are in the particular jurisdiction they're shipped to, where the seeds are sent from, how they're disguised, and yes, dumb luck.

In some cases, getting seeds imported successfully may be trivial. In others, not so much.

You might attempt to get in touch with other growers in NZ (ie anonymously, by internet) to see where they source their seeds. Maybe there is a safe(r) black market source within NZ.
 

CaptainCarnival

Active Member
when you order from attitude you can choose that they ship in a bunch of different ways if you choose the guaranteed discreet shipping you can have them shipped wrapped in a t-shirt,inside a hemp bag, with a coffee cup, or a wallet and then if you dont receive your seeds withing 21 days they send them again to you
 

KiwiSteve

Member
I'd wait a while before ordering with attitude customs have intercepted a few packages coming into New Zealand as of lately sure they resend but it's the fact your importing prohibited items I'd be extra skeptical if growing at the address the beans are getting sent to also just a thought. If planning on getting strains in for outdoors here don't fall for the flavour of the month strains from my experience most only do well indoors if you growing outdoors you want consistent sturdy plants that perform well in colder climates and are quite mold resistent early queen and early skunk from mr nice are great outdoors here so is the church by greenhouse seeds and Californian orange by homegrown fantaseeds
 

hazey grapes

Well-Known Member
i doubt new zealand has the manpower to check EVERY package. sometimes beans get seized here in the US, but it's rare. i bet it's the same there north east of aussie. if you want a "foolproof" way to import seeds, just go directly to a place that sells them like canada which is probably closest to you and use the old school double balloon breakfast tech. then you can HONESTLY say you have some good shit. LOL
 

NZgrowah

Member
update: i ordered on the 20th march. i got 15 seeds over 6 strains. the track and trace shows it arrived in NZ on the 23rd march... hasnt been scanned since. has it been picked up by customs?

edit: also does the package contain an invoice or something linking me to it? i used a fake name and a PO box address.
 

E M

Well-Known Member
You should wait upto at least 2 weeks before worrying seedbank dont normally put invoices in there packages as this would show customs where it came from i hope this help:)
 

NZgrowah

Member
ok i called nzpost and they have done an investigation to why it hasnt been scanned since "arrived in nz"

i left an email addy and they said theyll email me if the package turns up. i told them it was just a some clothing for my gf's bday

its been 22 days today.. should i just contact attitude and get them to ship to a normal addy with a normal name? maybe get a friend who doesnt grow or smoke or had any probs with the law who is willing?

im just affraid that the next package isnt going to make it thru as well and im going to lose $210 worth of seeds :(
 

NZgrowah

Member
You should wait upto at least 2 weeks before worrying seedbank dont normally put invoices in there packages as this would show customs where it came from i hope this help:)
phew.. no invoice inside.. that does help!
 

joeflacco

New Member
i ordered from single seeds website and had no trouble. i am in america but america is also very strict for imprting. seeds are also federally illegal here. there was little stealth in transporting the seeds which was kind of a shame but maybe thats why im supposed to order a tshirt. they did still make it thru tho. what i like about single seeds is that you can even just order 1 seed. i wouldnt have trusted them normally but my friend ordered from them and said they're legit and he was right.

i even used my real name and actual address. i dont grow where i live though, i have a 2nd house for that.
 

d7b

Well-Known Member
I have had 1 of about 10 orders intercepted in your neck of the woods. It is unlikely but can happen. expect a letter from customs if intercepted. they wont direct law enforcement to you unless you were probably getting hundreds of seeds mate. rest easy. i have had to wait 3-4 weeks sometimes :(
 

NZgrowah

Member
UPDATE: Yes, they arrived in the free re-delivery.

I worked it out. If they are sent on Tuesday from the UK, they'll get to NZ about Friday/Saturday.. then are delivered on Monday morning.
Of course, there are less staff on in the mail processing centers in the weekend, so less chance of detection.

My 6 strains (15 seeds) have arrived safely and are currently growing. Just about to post up pics in a new journal.
 

racerboy71

bud bootlegger
update: i ordered on the 20th march. i got 15 seeds over 6 strains. the track and trace shows it arrived in NZ on the 23rd march... hasnt been scanned since. has it been picked up by customs?

edit: also does the package contain an invoice or something linking me to it? i used a fake name and a PO box address.
idk how nz post office works, but here in the states, the tracking info that one gets from the usps is usually pretty worthless imo..it's so bad, i've pretty much stopped checking it as i usually get my gear before it even says it's anywhere close..
i'd think that nz's is pretty close to what we have, ie, worthless, lol..

like someone else said, give it a good 2 weeks, then start to sweat it some..
 

racerboy71

bud bootlegger
herbies head shop, aka, herbies pick and mix has some of the best stealth shipping out there imo.. i also hear nirvana does a great job on their stealth, although i'm not much of a fan of their genetics..
 

Clankie

Well-Known Member
Just order from attitude with tshirt option.
the last shirt I got was pretty awesome, and while if they were to open it up and basically take everything out they would find 'em, there's not really any reason to think it isn't just a t-shirt from a clothing company. Plus, there's definitely no way your seeds will get damaged/crushed with the way they ship 'em.
 

bluntmassa1

Well-Known Member
I don't think nirvanas too stealthy if they opened the package I got they would have been found them for sure but I did get 4 strains from them in my order can't wait to see how mr. nice does it from there auction its only my second time ordering seeds but they have tracking so there sopouse to send more out if they don't make it.
herbies head shop, aka, herbies pick and mix has some of the best stealth shipping out there imo.. i also hear nirvana does a great job on their stealth, although i'm not much of a fan of their genetics..
 
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