Canned Tuna Supplier
for New Zealand
Top Tide Canning is a B2B canned tuna exporter supplying Countdown and Foodstuffs private label programmes, ALDI New Zealand, Gilmours wholesale, and food service distributors Bidfood NZ and PFD across New Zealand. Every shipment includes FSANZ Food Standards Code compliant labelling, MPI border clearance documentation, FSSC 22000 food safety certification, and Dolphin-Safe IMMP and DPCIA credentials. We deliver CIF Auckland, Tauranga, and Lyttelton.
New Zealand: A High-Income, Sustainability-Conscious Market — Simpler Than Australia, But Equally Demanding on Quality
New Zealand is structurally similar to Australia — high per-capita income (~$48,000 USD), an English-speaking consumer base, shared food standards (FSANZ), and a retail sector dominated by two supermarket groups — but with one critical difference: no CoOL proportion bar chart requirement. Where Australia mandates a gold triangle logo and percentage bar chart on every pack, New Zealand requires only a simple country of origin text statement, making label adaptation significantly faster. The NZ retail market is dominated by Countdown (Woolworths NZ) and the two Foodstuffs cooperatives (North Island and South Island), together controlling over 90% of national supermarket revenue.
Two Groups, 90%+ of NZ Grocery Revenue — Private Label Drives the Category
Countdown (operating as Woolworths New Zealand, a subsidiary of the Australian Woolworths Group) and the Foodstuffs cooperatives (Foodstuffs North Island — PAK’nSAVE, New World, Four Square; Foodstuffs South Island — PAK’nSAVE, New World) between them account for over 90% of New Zealand’s supermarket revenue. Both groups run private label programmes — Countdown’s ‘Countdown’ own-brand and Foodstuffs’ ‘pams’ label — that source canned tuna from GFSI-certified SE Asian manufacturers. ALDI New Zealand has expanded its footprint since its 2025 launch, adding a hard-discount tier to the NZ grocery market.
- Countdown — ‘Countdown’ private label
- Foodstuffs NI — PAK’nSAVE, New World, Four Square
- Foodstuffs SI — PAK’nSAVE, New World
- ALDI NZ — launched 2025, growing footprint
NZ Uses the Same FSANZ Code as Australia — But Without the Mandatory CoOL Bar Chart
New Zealand and Australia share the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code under a joint food treaty — but NZ has not adopted Australia’s mandatory Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) system including the gold triangle logo and proportion bar chart. A simple text statement (‘Product of Thailand’, ‘Made in Indonesia’) on the label satisfies the NZ country of origin requirement. This makes New Zealand label compliance significantly faster and cheaper than Australia — CoOL artwork development, which adds 4–8 weeks in Australia, is not required for NZ-only retail products.
- FSANZ Code applies — same NIP, allergens, standards
- No gold triangle logo required
- No proportion bar chart required
- Simple ‘Product of [country]’ text statement only
Kaitiakitanga — Sustainability Is Core to NZ Consumer Identity and Retail Buying
New Zealand’s environmental identity is among the strongest globally — concepts like kaitiakitanga (Māori guardianship of the natural world) align with high consumer sustainability expectations for seafood. Both Countdown and Foodstuffs require Dolphin-Safe certification as a condition of canned tuna supply; NGO pressure from Forest & Bird New Zealand and Greenpeace NZ actively shapes buyer decisions. NZ’s significant Māori and Pacific Islander communities (Pasifika) have distinct food traditions where canned tuna — used in traditional dishes such as oka (Samoan raw fish) variations using cooked tuna — is a category staple. The Halal market also carries weight: approximately 1.2% of NZ’s population is Muslim, concentrated in Auckland.
- Dolphin-Safe IMMP / DPCIA — mandatory for major retailers
- MSC certification valued by premium buyers
- Māori & Pasifika community food staple
- Halal MUI — Auckland Muslim community
Six NZ Compliance Requirements: FSANZ, MPI, Origin Labelling, Tariff/GST, Retailer Qualification, and Mercury Limits
New Zealand shares Australia’s FSANZ food standard but operates its own MPI biosecurity system, applies a 15% GST to food (unlike Australia’s GST-free basic food), and does not require the CoOL bar chart — making NZ label compliance faster while border processes remain equally rigorous.
New Zealand applies the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code under the Treaty on Food Standards between Australia and New Zealand. For canned tuna, the key standards are Standard 1.2.8 (Nutrition Information Panel — energy in kJ, protein, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, sugars, sodium per serve and per 100g), Standard 1.4.1 (contaminant limits: mercury 1.0 mg/kg, lead 0.3 mg/kg, cadmium 0.05 mg/kg), and Standard 2.2.3 (fish and fish products — species identification and safety). New Zealand does not require pre-market product registration for imported canned tuna.
No pre-market registration. CODEX-aligned ISO 17025 CoA covers all FSANZ contaminant limits.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) administers New Zealand’s food safety and biosecurity functions under the Biosecurity Act 1993, the Food Act 2014, and the Animal Products Act 1999. Commercial food imports must be declared through NZ Customs’ TradeNet system and are subject to MPI risk assessment — canned tuna from SE Asia is classified as a low-to-medium risk commodity. MPI may select consignments for documentary or physical inspection at random; FSSC 22000 certification and a clean MPI compliance history reduce inspection frequency over time.
Licensed NZ customs broker required for TradeNet declaration. FSSC 22000 + ISO 17025 CoA package minimises MPI hold risk.
Unlike Australia, New Zealand does not require the CoOL gold triangle logo or proportion bar chart. The NZ Fair Trading Act 1986 and FSANZ Code require an accurate country of origin text statement on food packaging — ‘Product of Thailand’, ‘Made in Indonesia’, or ‘Packed in New Zealand from imported ingredients’ as appropriate. The Commerce Commission NZ enforces misleading origin claims under the Fair Trading Act, with penalties for false labelling. A straightforward ‘Product of [country]’ declaration satisfies NZ origin requirements.
No CoOL bar chart. ‘Product of [country]’ text statement only. Commerce Commission enforces accuracy.
New Zealand applies 0% import tariff to canned tuna (HS 1604.14) for SE Asian origins under the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) — covering Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese, and Philippine origins. New Zealand’s MFN tariff on most manufactured food imports is also 0%. However, unlike Australia (where basic food is GST-free), New Zealand’s 15% GST applies uniformly to all goods including food — there is no food GST exemption in NZ. GST is charged at the border as part of import duty assessment and passed on to the final consumer in retail pricing.
0% import tariff. 15% GST applies to food in NZ — no food exemption unlike Australia. Factor GST into landed cost calculations.
Countdown’s (Woolworths NZ) supplier qualification framework mirrors its Australian parent’s WQA requirements — FSSC 22000 or BRCGS certification, factory audit by approved third-party (SGS, Bureau Veritas, NSF), Dolphin-Safe documentation, NATA-equivalent NIP verification, and GS1 barcode registration. Foodstuffs cooperatives (Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island) operate separate buying teams but broadly equivalent qualification requirements through their Foodstuffs Supplier Portal. Both Countdown and Foodstuffs require label approval — including country of origin statement review — before product is listed in their planogram.
Countdown WQA and Foodstuffs qualification both require FSSC 22000, factory audit, Dolphin-Safe, and NIP verification. Typical onboarding: 6–12 months.
FSANZ Standard 1.4.1 sets a maximum of 1.0 mg/kg total mercury for canned fish in both Australia and New Zealand — matching CODEX STAN 193-1995. Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), the primary canned light meat species, typically tests at 0.05–0.15 mg/kg — well within the FSANZ limit and carrying no dietary consumption frequency restrictions. NZ’s Ministry of Health publishes the same dietary advisory as Australia regarding albacore (white tuna) for pregnant women. Top Tide Canning provides batch ISO 17025 certificates of analysis confirming mercury, lead, and cadmium per consignment.
Skipjack (light tuna) is FSANZ mercury-safe. ISO 17025 CoA satisfies Countdown and Foodstuffs private label documentation requirements.
NZ and Australia share a food standards body (FSANZ) and similar retail structures — but four material differences affect import planning, label cost, and landed cost calculations. Understanding them prevents costly surprises.
Four NZ Buyer Channels — Countdown/Foodstuffs Private Label, Independent Retail, Food Service, and Online Grocery
The Countdown–Foodstuffs duopoly controls most of NZ retail but independent specialty grocery (Farro, Moore Wilson’s, Gilmours) and a strong café/hospitality food service sector provide accessible alternative entry points — particularly for branded, sustainably certified canned tuna.
How to Import Canned Tuna into New Zealand — Six Steps from Factory to Countdown Shelf
NZ’s import process combines MPI biosecurity assessment, NZ Customs Service tariff processing via TradeNet, and FSANZ labelling compliance. No pre-market registration is required — but MPI can hold any shipment at the border for documentary or physical inspection. Unlike Australia, there is no CoOL artwork approval step — label lead time is shorter.
| Origin | Agreement | Tariff |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia · Thailand · Vietnam | AANZFTA | 0% |
| Philippines · Malaysia | AANZFTA | 0% |
| China | NZ-China FTA | 0% |
| MFN (any other origin) | General elimination | 0% |
| GST — all canned goods | NZ GST Act 1985 | 15% (no food exemption) |
Key difference from Australia: NZ charges 15% GST on food at import. GST-registered importers claim it back as input tax credit — but it affects cash flow and landed cost calculations.
Five Canned Tuna Formats for New Zealand — Private Label, Branded Retail, ALDI, Food Service, and Premium Sustainable
From 95g Countdown and Foodstuffs private label through ALDI NZ multipacks, Bidfood 1.7kg institutional, and solid yellowfin in olive oil for Farro Fresh and specialty buyers — each format is matched to the specific buying specification of its NZ channel.
95g & 185g Retail Can — Countdown and Foodstuffs ‘pams’ Label
The 95g single-serve and 185g family-size cans are NZ’s dominant retail SKUs for supermarket private label. Labels must include a FSANZ-compliant NIP (energy in kJ), fish allergen declaration, Dolphin-Safe logo, ‘Product of [country]’ text statement, best before date, and GS1 EAN-13 barcode. Both brine (springwater) and sunflower oil mediums are active in the NZ market; Countdown and Foodstuffs private label programmes accept both. NATA-equivalent laboratory-verified NIP values are required for major retailer private label qualification.
185g Branded Can — Farro Fresh, Moore Wilson’s, Gilmours, and Countdown Branded
For branded retail through NZ specialty grocery (Farro Fresh, Moore Wilson’s) and Gilmours wholesale, the 185g branded can is the primary format. The branded NZ canned tuna category includes Sealord (the dominant NZ brand, Māori-owned joint venture with Nissui), John West, and Greenseas — new entrants typically differentiate on Dolphin-Safe credentials, species quality (solid yellowfin vs. flaked skipjack), or sustainable fishing method designation. Sealord’s Māori ownership and New Zealand brand equity makes direct branded competition difficult — sustainability differentiation and specialty channel distribution is the preferred approach for new international entrants.
Multipack Format — ALDI New Zealand Hard-Discount Channel
ALDI New Zealand, which expanded nationally from its initial 2025 launch, operates the same hard-discount own-brand model as ALDI Australia — a limited assortment of private label ambient food products on long-term volume contracts. The standard canned tuna format for ALDI NZ is a heat-shrink multipack (3-pack or 6-pack 185g) under the ALDI house label. ALDI requires FSSC 22000, Dolphin-Safe certification, FSANZ-compliant label artwork, and price competitiveness as the primary selection criterion. ALDI NZ’s buying is coordinated through its Australian procurement office.
1.7kg Institutional — Bidfood NZ, PFD, Aged Care, and Tourism Hospitality
The 1.7kg A10 tin serves NZ’s food service and institutional market — Bidfood NZ and PFD Food Services supply aged care homes, hospitals (DHBs — District Health Boards, now Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora), school canteens, and the tourism hospitality sector (lodges, hotels, ski resort catering). Wellington’s café culture and Auckland’s restaurant scene generate consistent food service demand. Government institutional procurement (Health NZ tender) requires FSSC 22000 certification, batch-level CoA, and allergen declarations as standard bid documentation.
Solid Yellowfin in Olive Oil — Farro Fresh, Moore Wilson’s, and NZ Online Health Food
NZ’s premium canned seafood segment at Farro Fresh, Moore Wilson’s, and health food e-commerce platforms values solid-pack yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) in extra virgin olive oil over flaked skipjack in brine. Premium NZ buyers respond to verifiable sustainability credentials — Dolphin-Safe IMMP, MSC or Friend of the Sea, and transparent catch origin. The kaitiakitanga environmental ethos embedded in NZ consumer culture creates a strong premium for sustainably certified seafood across all channels. Top Tide Canning’s solid yellowfin in EVOO with FSSC 22000 and IMMP documentation is positioned for this segment at a significant margin premium.
FSANZ Canned Tuna Label Requirements for New Zealand — NIP, Allergens, Origin Statement, and Dolphin-Safe
NZ label requirements follow the same FSANZ Code as Australia — energy in kJ, NIP per serve and per 100g, scientific species name in ingredients, fish allergen declaration — but without the CoOL bar chart or gold triangle logo. This makes NZ label compliance faster and lower-cost than Australia, while the retailer private label qualification documentation requirements remain equivalent.
Mandatory FSANZ Label Elements — New Zealand
- Product name with species: ‘Skipjack Tuna in Springwater’, ‘Light Tuna in Brine’, ‘Yellowfin Tuna in EVOO’ — species accuracy legally required
- Net quantity + drained weight: ‘185 g net · Drained Weight 130 g’ — both required for fish in liquid medium (FSANZ Standard 1.2.6)
- Ingredient list with scientific name: ‘Skipjack Tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) (80%), Springwater, Salt’ — descending order by weight
- Fish allergen declaration: ‘Contains: Fish (Tuna)’ in bold — mandatory under FSANZ Standard 1.2.3; Top 14 allergen
- Nutrition Information Panel (NIP): Per-serve AND per 100g columns; energy in kJ (kcal optional); Protein, Fat, Sat fat, Carbohydrate, Sugars, Sodium — FSANZ Standard 1.2.8
- Country of origin text: ‘Product of Thailand’ or ‘Made in Indonesia’ — Fair Trading Act 1986 accuracy requirement; NO bar chart required
- Dolphin-Safe logo: IMMP or DPCIA mark — commercially mandatory for Countdown and Foodstuffs
- Best Before date: ‘Best Before MM/YYYY’ — canned goods use Best Before (not Use By)
- NZ importer name & address: Trading name and NZ street address for product liability
- GS1 EAN-13 barcode: Registered in GS1 NZ database — required for Countdown, Foodstuffs, and Gilmours retail scanning
NZ Label vs. Australia CoOL — The Critical Difference
| Label Element | New Zealand | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Food standards code | FSANZ (shared) | FSANZ (shared) |
| Energy unit in NIP | kJ (kcal optional) | kJ (kcal optional) |
| NIP columns | Per serve + per 100g | Per serve + per 100g |
| Country of origin logo | Not required | Gold triangle logo mandatory |
| Proportion bar chart | Not required | 0% bar chart mandatory |
| Origin text statement | ‘Product of [country]’ | ‘Product of [country]’ |
| Label artwork lead time | ~2–4 weeks | 4–8 weeks (CoOL approval) |
| Pre-market registration | Not required | Not required |
| Biosecurity inspection | MPI — random inspection | DAFF IFIS — random inspection |
| GST on food at import | 15% GST (no exemption) | 0% GST (basic food exempt) |
Suppliers targeting both markets simultaneously can produce a single FSANZ-compliant label that satisfies both countries by including the Australian CoOL gold triangle logo and 0% bar chart alongside the standard ‘Product of [country]’ text — the NZ requirement is automatically satisfied by a label that meets Australia’s stricter CoOL system. This reduces SKU proliferation when shipping to both markets from the same production run.
New Zealand Canned Tuna FAQ
Common questions from NZ importers, Countdown and Foodstuffs category buyers, Gilmours procurement teams, and Bidfood NZ food service distributors about FSANZ compliance, MPI inspection, CoOL vs. NZ labelling, tariff/GST, private label qualification, Sealord competition, and port logistics.
What are the FSANZ food labeling requirements for canned tuna sold in New Zealand?
New Zealand applies the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, administered jointly by FSANZ. For canned tuna, every retail pack must include: a species-accurate product name; net quantity and drained weight in grams; an ingredient list with scientific species name; a fish allergen declaration in bold (‘Contains: Fish (Tuna)’); a Nutrition Information Panel (NIP) showing energy in kJ per serve and per 100g; a country of origin text statement (‘Product of Thailand’); Dolphin-Safe logo; best before date; NZ importer name and address; and a GS1 EAN-13 barcode. Unlike Australia, New Zealand does not require the CoOL gold triangle logo or proportion bar chart — a simple text statement satisfies NZ origin requirements.
Does New Zealand require MPI approval or food registration before importing canned tuna?
No pre-market product registration is required for imported canned tuna in New Zealand — the MPI (Ministry for Primary Industries) operates a post-market border inspection model under the Food Act 2014 and Biosecurity Act 1993. All commercial food imports are declared through NZ Customs’ TradeNet system and are subject to MPI risk assessment; canned tuna from Southeast Asia may be selected for random documentary or physical inspection. FSSC 22000 certification and a clean MPI inspection history reduce inspection frequency over time. A licensed New Zealand customs broker is required to file the import declaration.
How does New Zealand’s country of origin labelling differ from Australia’s CoOL system?
Australia mandates three origin labelling elements — a gold triangle logo, a ‘Product of [country]’ text statement, and a proportion bar chart showing the percentage of Australian ingredients — under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. New Zealand requires only a simple country of origin text statement (‘Product of Thailand’, ‘Made in Indonesia’) under the Fair Trading Act 1986; no logo and no bar chart are required. This makes NZ label compliance significantly faster and cheaper — label artwork lead time is 2–4 weeks versus 4–8 weeks for Australia’s CoOL system. Suppliers targeting both markets can use a single Australian CoOL-compliant label, which automatically satisfies NZ’s simpler requirement.
What import tariff and GST applies to canned tuna entering New Zealand?
New Zealand applies 0% import tariff to canned tuna (HS 1604.14) for Southeast Asian origins under the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), and the MFN tariff for non-FTA origins is also 0% following general tariff elimination. However, unlike Australia where basic food is GST-free, New Zealand’s 15% Goods and Services Tax applies uniformly to all goods including food — assessed at the border as part of import duty processing. GST-registered importers claim the 15% back as an input tax credit, but it affects cash flow and landed cost calculations. Factor the 15% GST into NZ pricing discussions with buyers.
Who are Countdown and Foodstuffs and how do I qualify as their canned tuna supplier?
Countdown (trading as Woolworths New Zealand, an Woolworths Group subsidiary) and the two Foodstuffs cooperatives (Foodstuffs North Island — PAK’nSAVE, New World, Four Square; Foodstuffs South Island — PAK’nSAVE, New World) together control over 90% of NZ supermarket revenue. Both require FSSC 22000 or BRCGS food safety certification, a factory audit by an approved third-party auditor (SGS, Bureau Veritas, or NSF International), Dolphin-Safe certification (DPCIA or IMMP), NATA-equivalent lab-verified Nutrition Information Panel values, and GS1 barcode registration. Countdown’s qualification mirrors its Australian parent’s WQA framework; Foodstuffs cooperatives operate independent buying teams. Typical onboarding timeline: 6–12 months from first contact to purchase order.
What is Sealord and how does it affect the NZ canned tuna market for importers?
Sealord Group is New Zealand’s dominant seafood brand — a joint venture between Māori tribal authority Te Ohu Kaimoana (50%) and Japanese company Nissui (50%), with strong national brand equity and a Māori-owned provenance story that resonates deeply with NZ consumers. Sealord’s domestic brand presence makes head-to-head branded competition difficult for new international entrants at mainstream price points. The most effective entry strategies for foreign canned tuna suppliers are: private label supply to Countdown or Foodstuffs (where brand is irrelevant); premium sustainability-differentiated branded product for specialty channels (Farro Fresh, Moore Wilson’s) where Sealord’s mainstream positioning leaves room; or food service institutional supply (Bidfood NZ, PFD) where tender criteria favour price and certification over brand.
What sustainability certifications do NZ retailers require for canned tuna?
Countdown and Foodstuffs both require Dolphin-Safe certification (DPCIA or IMMP) as a condition of canned tuna supply — without it, product will not be listed. New Zealand’s strong environmental identity — anchored in the concept of kaitiakitanga (Māori guardianship of the natural world) — means NGO pressure from Forest & Bird NZ and Greenpeace NZ actively shapes retailer sustainability policy. Premium buyers (Farro Fresh, Moore Wilson’s) additionally value Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification or pole-and-line fishing designation. Top Tide Canning holds both IMMP and DPCIA Dolphin-Safe certifications, with batch-level verification documentation satisfying all major NZ retail buyer qualification requirements.
What are the main ports for importing canned tuna into New Zealand?
The primary New Zealand receiving ports for canned tuna are the Port of Tauranga (North Island — New Zealand’s highest-volume container port, handling approximately 1.4M TEUs annually) and the Port of Auckland (Ports of Auckland). For South Island distribution, Lyttelton Port (Christchurch) is the primary gateway. Transit time from Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Thailand) to Auckland or Tauranga is approximately 14–20 days. Top Tide Canning quotes CIF Port of Tauranga, CIF Port of Auckland, and CIF Lyttelton — goods flow to Countdown’s Auckland DC at Mangere, Foodstuffs NI’s DC, or Foodstuffs SI’s Christchurch DC after MPI clearance.
Top Tide Canning New Zealand Capabilities — FSANZ, MPI, Countdown, Foodstuffs, Bidfood NZ, and Premium Specialty
Every certification, document, and format NZ buyers require — from FSSC 22000 and MPI pre-clearance through Countdown WQA and Foodstuffs qualification packages, ALDI NZ multipacks, Bidfood NZ institutional supply, and CIF pricing to all three NZ port gateways.
Explore Other Top Tide Canning Export Markets
Top Tide Canning exports canned tuna to buyers across the Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Africa. Each market page covers the specific regulatory, commercial, and logistical requirements for that destination.
Request a Quote for New Zealand
Tell us your channel — Countdown or Foodstuffs private label, ALDI New Zealand, Gilmours wholesale, Bidfood NZ or PFD food service, or premium specialty retail such as Farro Fresh or Moore Wilson’s. We respond within one business day with CIF Tauranga, Auckland, or Lyttelton pricing, FSANZ-compliant label artwork, Dolphin-Safe IMMP and DPCIA certificates, FSSC 22000 certification, a complete MPI documentation package, and ISO 17025 certificates of analysis covering mercury and microbiological testing.
Get a New Zealand Quote →