Planning a move to New Zealand always requires foresight, but global events can shift the logistics landscape rapidly. The war in the Middle East has significantly impacted shipping routes, timeframes and costs, particularly from the UK and Europe, to New Zealand
To help expats and migrants relocating to NZ , we asked shipping expert Matthew Woodley from NZ Van Lines to provide his analysis of the situation and tips on how to manage shipping in this very tricky environment.
On 28 February 2026, US and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes on Iran, triggering retaliatory attacks across the Middle East region. With major shipping routes out of action, and fuel costs rising, the consequences are severe for expats and migrants sending their personal effects to New Zealand by sea.
Three chokepoints, One route
All three of the maritime chokepoints that affect New Zealand-bound shipping from the UK and Europe are now compromised.
Whilst the Suez Canal and Red Sea remain open, many of the larger vessels are avoiding the area due to the ongoing threat of Houthi attacks.
The Strait of Hormuz, the only exit from the Persian Gulf, has been rendered unsafe by the conflict with freight consultancy ‘Alphaliner’ reporting that 138 container ships carrying nearly 470,000 TEU (20-ft containers) were sheltering in the Gulf as of early March, affecting around 10.7% of the global container fleet. The Bab-el-Mandeb strait at the southern end of the Red Sea is also unsafe.
Sailings via the Cape of Good Hope remain the only consistent, safe and effective routing option for the shipping lines serving New Zealand from Europe, the UK, and the Middle East.
How does this impact transit times and costs?
The Cape diversion adds approximately 4,000 nautical miles and 12 to 15 sailing days.
Combined with vessel bunching at trans-shipment hubs in Singapore and Port Klang, families should now plan for a door-to-door transit time of 16 to 20 weeks from the UK or Europe, compared to a historical norm of around 10.
Container availability is also tighter, with over 10% of global fleet capacity tied up in the disruption.
US wholesale diesel prices jumped more than 30% in the week following the strikes. Emergency fuel surcharges on New Zealand-bound freight typically range from US$900 to US$1,400 per container. War risk and conflict surcharges add further costs on top, with some routes seeing increases of up to 300%.
Air freight to New Zealand from Europe is running at US$18 to US$26 per kilogram, making a standard 100kg essential shipment cost upwards of US$2,200.
Is my shipment still insured?
Standard transit insurance excludes war risks. If a carrier invokes the ‘Liberties Clause’, which enables it to make deviation from the planned route for safety reasons, and discharges your cargo at a safe port short of New Zealand, the cost of recovery and onward transit falls entirely on you as the shipper.
These costs can reach US$6,000 to US$9,500 and are not covered by standard policies.
One shipper, The Mediterranean Shipping Company, has already formally declared End of Voyage for all Arabian Gulf cargo.
Practical tips for moves from the UK / Europe.
Allow 16 to 20 weeks for sea freight transit from Europe or the UK (compared to 10 weeks prior to the war).
Be aware that surcharges are highly likely, and talk to your shipper about possible contingency figures
Send essentials by air.
Review your insurance for war-risk cover and Liberties Clause exposure.
Book at least two months ahead. Capacity is tight across all carriers.
Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand!
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