From 1 January 2021, no loose or spare batteries are allowed in passengers' checked luggage. This includes batteries in their original retail packaging. There is also a limit of 20 loose or spare batteries of any type allowed in carry-on luggage, unless an airline has approved the carriage of more batteries. Each spare battery must be individually protected by being in retail packaging, individual bag, a protective pouch, or with tape placed over exposed terminals. This is due to changes to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations.

Many items are restricted for plane travel because they can, or have the potential to, cause harm to people and planes.

To ensure you're travelling safely and to prevent items being relinquished at security, we've listed some of the more common items below. If you're unsure, we recommend you check with your airline first.

 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Aerosols
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Air guns
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Alcohol
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Ammunition / Bullets
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Animal bolt gun
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Ashes - Cremated remains
 
 
There are no restrictions on this item, but it may be inspected.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Avalanche rescue backpacks
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Axes, hatchets and ice picks
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Barometer
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Batteries - dry-cell and nickel-metal hydride
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Batteries - lithium
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Batteries - other types
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Batteries - sealed lead acid
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Beverages
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Blasting caps and detonators
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Bludgeoning weapons
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Within 40cm restriction
Within 40cm restriction
 
 
Exceeds 40cms restriction
Exceeds 40cms restriction
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Box cutter (Stanley knives)
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Butane Gas Cylinders
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Camp cookers
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Cellphones, laptops and other electronic devices
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Chainsaw and other petrol-powered tools
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Christmas crackers
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
There are restrictions on these items.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Within 40cm restriction
Within 40cm restriction
 
 
Exceeds 40cms restriction
Exceeds 40cms restriction
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Dirks and Sgian Dubh
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Dry ice - Carbon dioxide
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
E-cigarettes, Vaporisers and Vapes
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Ear buds (wireless) / AirPods
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Energy efficient light bulbs
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Explosives - Industrial
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Firearm parts
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Firearms
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Firearms - imitation
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Fireworks
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Flare guns
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Food
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Hair curlers – Hydro-carbon
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Hair straighteners
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Hair styling (heated) devices - battery powered
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Hand tools
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Hearing aids
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Heated clothing
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Heru [comb]
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Hiking poles
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Hoe [waka paddle]
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Hunting and fishing equipment
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Improvised Explosive Device (IED)
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Kirpans
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Knitting needles
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Knives
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Knives - illegal
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Life jackets
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Lighter fluid
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
On person
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Lighters
 
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Liquid nitrogen
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Martial arts weapons
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
On person
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Matches
 
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Medal fixing pins
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Medical Items
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Medicine
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Mere, Wahaika and Patu
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Military ordinance
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Mobility aids - walking sticks and crutches
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Nitrous oxide
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Non-flammable gas
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Party poppers
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Pepper spray and Mace
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Personal locator beacon
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Powder (inorganic)
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Power banks
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Power tools
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Preserved specimens
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Exceeds 20cm restriction
 
 
Within 20cm restriction
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Putorino [bugle flute]
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Razors and shavers
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Scissors
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Shock absorbers
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Smart bags (with lithium battery)
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Soldering irons
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Sports equipment
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Swords and sword sticks
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Taiaha
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Tasers and stun guns
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Tent pegs
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Therapeutic products
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Thermometer - medical
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Toiletries and cosmetics
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
As a pendant
 
 
If attached to a handle
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Tokotoko
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Tools with a metal shaft
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Trade products (PLAGs)
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Umbrellas
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.
 
Carry-on bag
Checked-in luggage
Valve oil
 
 
There are restrictions on this item.