Stuff Trade Me FindSomeone Holiday Houses Hotels & Motels Treat Me Old Friends
10:04 am, 27 May
Buy online and sell with Trade Me
Advertisement

Banned & restricted items

You may only sell items in your possession that you are legally entitled to sell.

Banned Items
Below is a list of items which you are not allowed to sell on Trade Me:


Restricted Items
Below is a list of items that you can sell but are restricted on Trade Me:


Note: Trade Me reserves the right to remove other items that are not on these lists if they are considered offensive or are in breach of our terms and conditions.

Adult items
Adult rated items (lifestyle, magazines, DVDs, etc) must be listed in the appropriate adult category. Adult novelty and erotic clothing must be listed in the Novelty & adult category.

You may not use explicit language or descriptions. Photos, where permitted, should be of the item only. Use of props or accessories is not permitted. Trade Me reserves the right to remove any image it deems offensive.

Agricultural compounds
You must ensure that any agricultural compound complies with the requirements under the Agricultural Compounds and veterinary medicines (ACVM) Act. For further information visit the NZ Food Safety Authority or phone the ACVM Group on 04 463 2550.

Airguns (BB and paintball guns)
People over the age of 18 do not need a firearms licence to own an airgun. However those aged 16 and 17 years who wish to own an airgun must hold a firearms licence.

Those trading air guns face to face should ensure that they sight the firearms licence or proof of age identification of the person they are trading with.

You may only sell air guns that are already in New Zealand. Overseas members may not sell firearms on the site.

Alcohol
The Sale of liquor Act 1989 states that the sale of liquor to the public or any member of the public requires a licence. Unless you have registered as a wine seller with Trade Me (read more), you may not sell alcohol of any nature on the site.

Animal products
You may not sell any endangered species, protected wildlife, sports fish, game or unwanted animals (e.g. ferrets). It is your responsibility to make sure you are not selling these items. If in doubt contact the Department of Conservation.

You may not sell snails, whales, sharks, dolphins, seals, sea lions or indigenous birds (or parts thereof). If you want to sell fish, including shellfish (or parts thereof) contact the Ministry of Fisheries for more information.

Animal traps
You may only sell animal traps that are not hard-jawed leg-hold traps.

Backup or copied software, CDRs or DVDRs
You are not permitted to list CDRs, DVDRs, or other forms of recordable media unless they are blank. This policy includes but is not limited to copies of software programs, video games, music albums, movies, electronic books, television programs or images.

Bike helmets
You may only list a bike helmet if it is certified to a standard approved by Land Transport New Zealand. Your helmet should have a sticker inside it stating which standard it complies with. For more information please see the Land Transport site.

Businesses for sale
All businesses listed on Trade Me must be sold as a going concern. You can not sell or promote new franchises or opportunities.

Carbon credits
You may only sell certified credits that are registered with a carbon credits registry such as Markit Environmental Registry or the NZ Emission Unit Register.

Chainsaws
You may only list a chainsaw if it has a chain brake. For more information about chain brakes and their ISO 6535:2008 requirements, visit the Ministry of Consumer Affairs website.

CCTV footage
To ensure compliance with the Privacy Act 1993, you may not sell CCTV footage.

Child restraints
Child restraints must meet approved standards and be less than 10 years old. Child restraints certified for use in New Zealand will show an 'S' mark (New Zealand Standard NZS 1754), or a tick mark (Australian Standard AS 1754), or an 'E' mark (European Standard ECE 44).

Read more about child restraints.

Cigarette or nicotine replacements
You may not sell cigarette or nicotine replacements, including e-cigarettes or products intended for use as a nicotine replacement.

Copyrighted items and content
You must not sell items or include content which breaches any copyright or other intellectual property rights. As a seller it is your responsibility to ensure the items you sell and the content of your listing are not in breach of any intellectual property rights.

Read more about copyright law.

Courier Post EasyTraks
You may not list Courier Post EasyTraks for sale on the site. This follows an agreement Trade Me has with Courier Post.

eBooks and downloadable media
You may not sell eBooks. We classify an electronic book (eBook) to be any book or information in digital format that you can access using a software program. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Copies, software or programs where the buyer downloads or has access to download from a website.
  • Music and video files that you can deliver through file sharing software.
  • Downloadable or electronically delivered eBooks.
  • The sale of a URL or web address where a member can download or obtain free copies of information.
  • ebooks or other information sourced from the Internet produced in a printed version that is sold outside distribution or copyright laws.
  • Electronic invites, including gmail and similar items.
  • Any media delivered on CDRs or in a downloadable format.
Event tickets
You may not list tickets to events which are subject to the Major Events Management Act. This specifically includes tickets to the 2011 Rugby World Cup matches. For more information please see the Ministry of Economic Development site.

Electrical items
All electrical items for sale must be safe. Some items require a supplier declaration of compliance (SDOC) before they can be sold; other items considered higher risk also require safety approval or certification.

For more information on electrical items, visit the Energy Safety website and check out their guide to supplying safe electrical products.

Firearms and ammunition
You may only list "A" category firearms, in sporting configuration, as defined by the Arms Act 1983. Large capacity magazines (i.e. more than 15 cartridges for .22 rimfire, or more than 7 cartridges for others) may not be sold for use with Military Style Semi-Automatic firearms (MSSAs), or which when affixed to a firearm classify it as an MSSA. Sellers must sight the firearms licence of the buyer, or for remote sales sellers must receive written confirmation signed by Police confirming the buyer holds a valid firearm's licence. Forms are available at any police station.

Firearms must already be in New Zealand. Overseas members may not buy or sell firearms on the site.

Only one firearm may be advertised per listing.

Fireworks
You may not list fireworks for sale on the site.

Flights
You may only sell flights that are transferable. Any costs associated with the transfer of the ticket must be explicitly stated in the listing.

Foreign plugs
In order to comply with New Zealand laws, items with foreign plugs may not be sold. This applies to items that require an adaptor to connect to a New Zealand socket.

For more information on plugs, visit the Energy Safety website and check out their guide to supplying safe electrical products.

Food
All food sold on the site must be produced in a registered premises or under an approved food safety programme or registered risk management programme. It must also comply with food labelling and standards requirements.

Visit the New Zealand Food Safety Authority website for further information or contact your local council.

Gas appliances
All new and second-hand gas appliances for sale must be safe, and need to have been declared safe under the Gas (Safety) Regulations before they can be sold.

For more information, visit the Energy Safety website and check out their guide to supplying safe gas products.

Frequent flyer points
You may not sell frequent flyer points on the site. Most frequent flyer reward schemes do not allow the transferring of points between members.

Gang paraphernalia/memorabilia
You may not list gang related paraphernalia or memorabilia for sale on the site. It is at Trade Me's discretion what is considered to be gang related.

Hang gliders and paragliders
Gliders must have a new Warrant of Fitness before they are sold. WOF's can only be issued by the NZHGPA.

For more information visit The Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association.

Human bodies or body parts
You may not list a human body or body parts for sale on the site. This includes such items as sperm, eggs, excrement, and bone.

Items subject to product safety standards
The following items must comply with all applicable product safety standards before you list them for sale on the site:

  • Baby walkers
  • Children's nightwear
  • Children's toys
  • Cigarette lighters
  • Cots
  • Pedal bicycles
Read more about product safety standards.

Kwila and merbau
You may only sell new kwila or merbau products that are certified by one of two accreditation bodies: either the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) or the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). We may ask for proof of these certifications if you wish to sell new kwila or merbau products. For more information, visit our Help page.

Lottery and raffle tickets
You may not list lottery or raffle tickets for sale.

Made to order items
You may list items that are 'made to order' in the following circumstances:

  • The goods will be shipped within one week of the auction's close.
  • The auction is for a specific item, where the winning bidder may choose one simple thing such as colour or size.
  • The winning bidder does not have to supply additional information, such as a photo, in order for the item to be made.


Magnetic and smart card readers
You may not list magnetic / smart card readers or writers, or blank cards that can be used with these devices.

Medical devices
If selling a medical device (excluding first aid kits) you must state in the listing "Consult a medical professional first and follow the instructions." Medical devices include but aren't limited to: insulin pumps, infusion pumps, enteral feeding devices, CPAP machines, ventilators and apnea alarms.

Medicine and supplements
You may not sell medicine or supplements intended for human use. Items deemed to be medicine or supplements will be removed at Trade Me's sole discretion.

Menacing dogs
You may not list menacing dog breeds for sale on the site. These dogs are defined as the following breeds:

  • American Pit Bull Terrier
  • Brazilian Fila
  • Dogo Argentino
  • Japanese Tosa
  • Presa Canario

Movies and games
You may only list classifiable movies and games for sale if they carry the correct New Zealand classification sticker. When listing these items for sale, you must include the New Zealand classification rating and all information on the classification label.

The sale of these publications is covered by the Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act 1993.

For more information visit the Office of Film and Literature Classification website.

Needles and syringes
The Health (Needles and Syringes) Regulations 1998 state that only approved professionals such as Pharmacists may sell needles or syringes. Unless you are approved under these regulations you may not sell needles or syringes on the site.

Nazi memorabilia
You may not list Nazi memorabilia for sale on the site. It is at Trade Me's discretion what is considered to be Nazi memorabilia.

We generally allow the sale of German coins and postage stamps and educational books about WWII or Nazi Germany.

Offensive weapons
You may not sell weapons where they are purely intended for attack purposes. This includes but is not limited to: flick knives, butterfly knives, ninja stars, knuckle dusters.

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) software
You may only sell Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) software on Trade Me if it is sold with a computer.

Paint colours
If you're selling paints which are "tinted to" or "similar to" the colours of certain brands, you may not refer to those brands.

Pets and animals
Dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, horses, donkeys and ponies may not be auctioned. These animals must be listed in their correct category as a classified ad, so the seller won't be obliged to sell the animal to an unsuitable home.

We have banned the sale of some breeds of dogs on the site, and kittens for sale must be at least eight weeks old.

Plants
You may not sell plants that are listed on The National Pest Plant Accord. This list can be found at Protect New Zealand.

Protected New Zealand objects
Under the Protected Objects Act 1975 (previously the Antiquities Act), it is an offence to sell taonga tuturu (Maori cultural objects) to people other than registered collectors, public museums and licensed dealers. The Act also regulates the export of protected New Zealand objects and you must obtain permission from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage to export such objects. Find out more.

Radio transmitters or transceivers
All radio transmitters or transceivers listed for sale must comply with New Zealand licensing and compliance regulations. Check your compliance requirements and licensing requirements.

For further queries please contact Radio Spectrum Management on 0508 RSM INFO.

Recreational drugs
You may not list recreational drugs (herbal or chemical) or related equipment on the site. This includes such items as dance pills and NOS canisters, and items used in the cultivation of cannabis.

Services
You may not sell services on the site, except within the Services Category.

Software that interfaces with the Trade Me website
You may not list software that technically interfaces with the Trade Me website. This includes but is not limited to things such as auto-relisters.

Spray paint cans
You may not sell spray paint cans on the site.

Tobacco
You may not sell tobacco on the site. The advertisement and sale of tobacco based products contravenes the SmokeFree Environment Act of 1990.

Underwear or undergarments
Used or second hand underwear may be sold on the site. However, it must be washed thoroughly.

Uniforms for NZ Emergency services
You may not sell uniforms or accessories for New Zealand 111 Emergency services. This includes police, fire and ambulance uniforms.

VCDs
You may not list VCDs for sale on the site. We understand that the majority of VCDs are pirated. We have a blanket 'no sale' policy of these items.

Veterinary medicines
You cannot sell Prescription Animal Remedies (PAR) or veterinary only medicines.

Wholesale lists
You may not sell wholesale lists or place listings that are used to solely promote the purchase of items through other channels.

If you are unsure of whether or not you are allowed to list an item please contact us.

Want further assistance?

  • Call us on 0900 87233Available 24/7. Calls cost $1.99 + GST per minute.
  • Email us your questionWe aim to respond within 12 hours.