Most of the custom merch infrastructure in the ANZ region is based in Australia — which means New Zealand event organisers and businesses often work with Australian suppliers. That's fine, and often the right call. But there are a few things that work differently across the Tasman that are worth understanding before you place an order.

Freight: the biggest variable

Freight from Australian decorators to New Zealand adds cost and time to every order. This isn't a reason to avoid Australian suppliers — the product range, quality, and pricing from Australian decorators is often still better than what's locally available in NZ — but it needs to be factored into your planning from the start.

Standard airfreight from Australia to New Zealand typically runs 3–5 business days. Express options can get product there in 1–2 business days, at a higher cost. Sea freight is available for large orders and is significantly cheaper, but takes 10–15 business days and is only practical if you have that lead time.

For most NZ event orders, airfreight is the default. Build it into your timeline and your budget explicitly — don't treat it as a variable to figure out at the end.

GST and customs

New Zealand has its own GST system (also 15%, as opposed to Australia's 10%). Goods imported from Australia for commercial use may be subject to NZ GST, depending on the value of the shipment and how it's classified. For shipments under NZD $1,000, the importer (you) may be required to self-assess and pay GST. For larger shipments, GST is typically collected at the border.

If you're a GST-registered NZ business, you can generally claim this back — but it's a cash-flow consideration and an administrative step that domestic orders don't require. Talk to your accountant if you're regularly importing goods from Australia for your NZ business.

On the Australian side: if you're a NZ buyer purchasing from an Australian supplier, the supply is typically GST-free (zero-rated for export), meaning no Australian GST applies. A reputable Australian supplier will understand this and invoice correctly.

Blanks availability in NZ

Many of the blank brands used heavily in Australia — particularly AS Colour — are actually New Zealand brands and have strong local availability in NZ. AS Colour has a significant NZ presence and their products are available through NZ-based decorators. If you prefer to work with a local NZ decorator, the blank options are genuinely good.

Where NZ sometimes falls short is in the breadth of decoration options. Screen printing, embroidery, and DTF are available from most NZ decorators. Specialty methods — discharge printing, water-based specialty inks, full-colour sublimation on specific products — may require an Australian supplier for the best results.

Lead times: add a week

Whatever lead time you'd allow for an Australian order, add a week for a NZ delivery. Production timelines on the Australian side are the same, but you need freight transit time on top, plus a buffer for any customs delays (rare but not impossible).

Rule of thumb: if you need product in NZ by a specific date, work back from that date with the Australian production lead time plus 7 days for freight and buffer. Brief your decorator with a firm in-hand date — a good supplier will work back from that date and tell you when they need your artwork approved to make it happen.

Currency

Australian suppliers quote in AUD. The AUD/NZD exchange rate fluctuates — at the time of most orders, NZD buys more AUD than 1:1, which typically makes Australian pricing look reasonable in NZD terms. But build in a buffer for exchange rate movement if you're paying in NZD from a NZ account.

When to use an Australian supplier vs NZ-local

Use an Australian supplier when: you need specialty decoration, a very wide blank range, or are comparing pricing and quality on a larger order. Use a NZ-local decorator when: freight time is a constraint, you want to support local business, or the order is straightforward enough that the local option is genuinely competitive.

For most standard orders — screen printed tees, embroidered polos, custom caps — a good NZ decorator will serve you well. For more complex decoration or specialty products, it's worth getting quotes from Australian suppliers and factoring in freight to compare.

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