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