Selling to New Zealand with Shopify Markets

Most Australian shops that sell overseas start with New Zealand. Shoppers speak the same language, the shipping lanes are short, and the tax rules for small parcels are clearer than in most markets. The work is in the details: pricing in NZD, charging NZ GST when the rules say you must, knowing what happens at the border, and telling Kiwi shoppers what they will pay before they pay it.

Shopify Markets handles the storefront side. It lets one store show different currencies, prices, domains and shipping rates to different countries. You do not need a second store to sell into New Zealand, unless you want a fully separate catalogue. If you do, see the expansion store discussion in our Shopify Plus guide.

1. Step 1

   Add New Zealand as a market

   In Shopify admin, open Settings, then Markets, and add New Zealand. You can group it with other countries later, but a market of its own gives you control over price, shipping and tax.

2. Step 2

   Choose how prices are set

   Shopify's help centre lists three options. Prices can convert automatically at the current exchange rate, which you can also set by hand. You can apply a percentage adjustment in a catalog. Or you can set fixed prices for specific products in a country or region.

3. Step 3

   Round prices so they look local

   Shopify lets you round converted prices for each market so shoppers see tidy figures instead of $47.38. Pick an ending that matches how your Australian prices look.

4. Step 4

   Turn on local currency checkout

   Customers can pay and receive refunds in their local currency. Shopify says only stores using Shopify Payments with access to one-page checkout can use all the features. You also need a country selector so shoppers can choose New Zealand and see NZD.

5. Step 5

   Set shipping rates for New Zealand

   Create a shipping profile and zone for New Zealand with real rates from your carrier, and say how long delivery takes.

6. Step 6

   Test as a New Zealand shopper

   Switch the country on your own store and walk through a complete order. Check prices, shipping, tax lines and the confirmation email.

Pricing is a choice, not a formula. Pure conversion keeps your prices consistent, but it moves every time the exchange rate does. Fixed NZD prices are steadier for shoppers and need a review every few months. Percentage adjustments sit in between. We usually start with a percentage adjustment and round to the nearest dollar, then fix the prices on the best sellers.

Payment methods matter too. Check which wallets and buy-now-pay-later options work for NZD checkout before you advertise them. Our Afterpay and Zip guide and payments guide cover the Australian setup.

New Zealand has a specific GST regime for goods sent from overseas that are worth NZ$1,000 or less each. The rules apply to overseas businesses selling directly to New Zealand consumers. Under Inland Revenue's guidance, an overseas seller, online marketplace or redeliverer must register for GST if its supplies of low-value goods to New Zealand consumers reached NZ$60,000 or more in the last 12 months, or will exceed NZ$60,000 in the next 12 months.

• Low value means goods valued at NZ$1,000 or less each. Goods valued above NZ$1,000 are not counted in the NZ$60,000 total.
• The total includes low-value goods, online services and digital products, and related charges such as delivery, insurance and fees.
• Sales to New Zealand GST-registered businesses are left out of the total.
• Customs says the NZ$1,000 threshold is based on the customs value of the goods, and that transport and insurance costs are excluded.
• If you register, you charge GST on sales to New Zealand consumers and return it to Inland Revenue. Customs treats GST as already paid on consignments where the supplier collected it, and as not required where the supplier is not GST-registered.
• Goods above NZ$1,000 are handled differently. Customs collects GST and any duty at the border.

New Zealand's GST rate is 15%. Whether to register below the threshold is a decision for your accountant. Registering early means the shopper sees GST at checkout and sees the full price upfront, with no surprise later. Not registering is simpler for the business. Either way, state clearly on your shipping page what the customer pays, and keep that wording in step with whatever you decide.

Your Australian GST obligations are separate. Our GST setup guide explains how to set up Shopify's tax settings, and your accountant should confirm how export sales are reported.

Customs duty is a separate question from GST. Whether duty applies depends on the product's tariff classification and where the goods originate. Australia and New Zealand have a free trade agreement, the Closer Economic Relations arrangement, and goods must meet rules of origin to get preferential treatment. NZ Customs publishes a fact sheet on those rules. We could not confirm a blanket rule that low-value parcels are duty free, so do not promise your customers that. Check the NZ Customs tariff for your product types, or ask your freight forwarder or customs broker.

NZ Customs also notes that alcohol and tobacco products under the NZ$1,000 threshold still need an import declaration, because duty and GST may be payable. If you sell alcohol, read our alcohol guide and the rules in both countries first.

Shopify has tools that calculate duties and import taxes at checkout, so the shopper pays everything upfront. This is called delivered duty paid, where the seller covers duties, import clearance and taxes. Shopify's Australian blog describes it as the sender taking responsibility for those costs. Availability and fees depend on your plan and the market, so check Shopify's current documentation or ask a Shopify specialist before you promise it on your site.

The shopper will judge your store by the delivery. Show the price and the timeframe at checkout, and tell them how to track the parcel. Choose a carrier that handles the customs paperwork for you, and if you register for NZ GST, ask the carrier how your registration number should appear on the invoice.

• Set a shipping zone for New Zealand with a flat rate or weight-based rate, and a free shipping threshold in NZD.
• Put realistic delivery times on product pages, not just at checkout.
• Add the right HS code and country of origin to each product so customs paperwork is accurate.
• Write a New Zealand returns policy. Returns cost more and take longer, so say who pays for return postage. See our returns policy guide.
• Consider a New Zealand return address or partner if volume grows.

For Australian rates and carrier setup, start with our shipping guide.

You have two sensible options. Serve New Zealand from a subfolder of your main domain, such as yourstore.com.au/en-nz, or run a separate .co.nz domain pointed at the same store. Shopify's redirect documentation confirms that redirects apply to market and language subfolders, so subfolders are supported.

• A subfolder is simpler to run. All your links and reputation sit on one domain.
• A separate .co.nz domain feels local to shoppers and can help trust, but it is a second domain to manage and rank.
• Whichever you choose, give each market a clear signal about its country and language, so search engines show the right version.
• Write New Zealand copy with local spelling and terms. Kiwi shoppers use jandals and togs, not thongs and swimmers.

Our Plus package includes Shopify Markets for NZ, UK and US with local pricing, and our Shopify Plus service page has more on larger builds. Our Custom package covers a New Zealand setup for established Australian brands. For the SEO side, see our Shopify SEO checklist.