The status of distilling alcohol for personal use in NZ

[kiwikeg]

It is often asked what the status of home distilling is in New Zealand.
It's not a legal/illegal issue so much as a excise tax issue

You cannot supply your homemade alcohol to any person outside of your immediate household ie anyone who does not live in the same private home as you. This means bartering it, swapping it or even gifting it to a mate is subject to excise tax and you will need to become licensed.

From NZ Customs Website

'' If you grow tobacco or make alcohol in your private home for your own consumption and personal use, and not for reselling or supplying to any other person, then you do not have to be licensed as a manufacturing area and will not be liable for excise duty.

If at any time you start selling or supplying your goods then you will need to become licensed and will be liable for excise duty"

http://www.customs.govt.nz/manufacturin ... fault.aspx

[Andy]

shit grow your own tobacco!? its tax is like $450 per kg in Australia- also hugely illegal to grow in Australia.

[kiwikeg]

shit grow your own tobacco!? its tax is like $450 per kg in Australia- also hugely illegal to grow in Australia.

Yep you can grab yourself a tobacco growing kit at any HBS, used to grow Hauraki Gold tobacco plants for organic varroa mite control in my beehives, beautiful plants 10ft tall, but curing it for human consumptiin is a pain in the ass.

[greenguy]

i didn't realise you couldn't even give it to ya mates o well lucky i don't then ae :D
but now i no now how do i get that licence

[kiwikeg]

i didn't realise you couldn't even give it to ya mates o well lucky i don't then ae :D
but now i no now how do i get that licence

Apply here http://www.customs.govt.nz/manufacturin ... fault.aspx
I don't recommend applying but it is possible to become licensed...