Hello everyone,
My apologies for bumping such an old thread, but as I never really established myself in the community I guess this is almost an introduction.
It's been a stressful year here and the garden maybe didn't get as much attention as it should. It's mid summer now and everything is starting to look green and healthy again.
In response to questions about the import situation in New Zealand, yes, we do have fairly strict border controls. Legitimate importation of seeds or live plants is permitted, but has been put beyond the reach of the hobby gardener. That being said, many New Zealanders import seeds from overseas websites / mail order catalogues which arrive without hassle, with customs being fully aware of the situation (often inspecting seeds in the mail and releasing them).