Culturally or religiously significant items have a higher personal value to you.

These include items for:

  • Cultural reasons e.g. Tokotoko (ceremonial walking stick);
  • Religious reasons e.g. Sikh’s Kirpan; and
  • Family reasons e.g. heirloom, knife from the Great War.

Can they be carried onboard?

Some passengers would like to take culturally significant items into the cabin of the aircraft with them. This is not always possible, as some items are restricted from entering the cabin of aircraft due to security concerns. 

The Aviation Security Service is required to prevent passengers from taking items capable of causing serious injury on board an aircraft.  This includes firearms, disabling weapons and explosives, but also includes:

  • Blunt instruments capable of being used to bludgeon; and
  • Blades and metal shafts capable of being used to stab or slice.

The following are examples of culturally significant items carried by passengers, and when it is okay to go as carry-on or when they must go as checked luggage. 

If the item you are taking, is not listed below, but has similar characteristics to an item that cannot go as carry-on, please pack in your checked luggage

Other countries may have less or more strict rules around these items, so you should always check with your airline if you are flying internationally.

If you take an item with you as carry-on when it should have been packed in your checked luggage, there could be serious consequences for you, including:

  • Missing your flight; or
  • Leaving your item behind.

Indigenous Australian (Aboriginal) items

Boomerang

  Carry-on bag Checked-in luggage
Within 40cm restriction    
Boomerang smaller than 40cm
Exceeds 40cm restriction    
Boomerang larger than 40cm

Boomerangs are traditional hunting weapons used by indigenous Australians. 

There are two types of boomerang:

Returning – they have two equal arms connected at an angle

Hunting – they have two arms with one significantly longer than the other. 

They are common souvenir items.

Boomerangs that are more than 40cm in length, measured from tip to tip, must go in checked luggage.

If the boomerang is less than 40cm, it is okay to take as carry-on luggage.

Didgeridoo

  Carry-on bag Checked-in luggage
Within 40cm restriction    
Didgeridoo smaller than 40cm
Exceeds 40cm restriction    
Didgeridoo larger than 40cm

Didgeridoos are traditional musical instruments of indigenous Australians.  They are made from hollowed hardwoods and can range in length from under half a metre, to over three metres in length.

They are common souvenir items.

Didgeridoos that are more than 40cm in length, measured from tip to tip, must go in checked luggage.

If the didgeridoo is less than 40cm, it is okay to take as carry-on luggage.

Maori items

Heru (comb)

Carry-on bag Checked-in luggage
   

Heru is a traditional Māori ornamental comb usually carved from a solid piece of wood or bone used to fasten long hair on top of the head.

There are no restrictions applying to the heru.  You can wear it or carry it in either, your checked or carry-on luggage.

Hoe (waka paddle)

Carry-on bag Checked-in luggage
   

Hoe is a traditional Māori waka (canoe) paddle.  In addition to be used to row, the hoe was also used as a weapon.

Hoe (waka paddle) that are more than 20cm in length, are restricted from carry-on luggage but they can go in your checked-in luggage.

Mere, Wahaika and Patu

Carry-on bag Checked-in luggage
   

Mere is a short flat-bladed weapon in the shape of a large teardrop, commonly made from pounamu.

Patu have a similar shape to Mere but are made from stone or wood.

Wahaika are short club usually carved from a solid piece of bone, wood or stone.  These items are commonly purchased as souvenir items.

All traditional Māori weapons (including souvenirs) that are more than 20cm in length, measured from end to end, are restricted from carry-on luggage, but they can go in your checked-in luggage.

Purerehua

  Carry-on bag Checked-in luggage
Within 20cm restriction    
Exceeds 20cm restriction    

Purerehua (bullroarer) is a musical wind instrument consisting of a single piece of bone, wood or stone in the shape of a blade-like object attached to a cord, that is twirled vigorously in the air.

Its shape and the materials it is made of, make it an effective weapon.  Any purerehua more than 20cm in length, are restricted from carry-on luggage, but they can go in your checked-in luggage

Putorino

Carry-on bag Checked-in luggage
   

Putorino (bugle flute) is a musical wind instrument made from split and hollowed hardwood. The putorino is usually between 20cm and 50cm in length.

There are no restrictions applying to the putorino.  You can carry it in either your checked or carry-on luggage

Taiaha

Carry-on bag Checked-in luggage
   

Taiaha is a close quarter weapon used for short strikes or stabbing thrusts.  Taiaha are usually between 1.5 and 1.8 metres in length.

Taiaha are a common souvenir.

Taiaha cannot go as carry-on but it is okay for it to go in your checked luggage.

Tokotoko

Carry-on bag Checked-in luggage
   

Tokotoko is a traditional Māori carved ceremonial walking stick. On a marae, it is a symbol of authority and status for the speaker holding it.

Tokotoko, like Tiripou (walking sticks), are allowed in carry-on if used as a mobility aid to assist you moving around, otherwise they are to go as checked luggage.

Toki

  Carry-on bag Checked-in luggage
As a pendant    
If attached to a handle    

Toki (adze) is a traditional Māori tool used to carve canoes and detailing on meeting houses.  The adze head can be made of pounamu and worn around the neck.

Toki are a common souvenir

Toki as a pendant is okay to be worn or taken as carry-on, but if attached to a handle, it must be carried in checked luggage.

Other cultural items

Dirk

  Carry-on bag Checked-in luggage
Dirk    

Dirk is a traditional Scottish dagger approximately 30cm in length worn around the waist. A dirk is sometimes confused with a Sgian Dubh, which is significantly smaller and placed in the sock when a kilt is worn.

Both Dirks and Sgian Dubh are restricted to checked luggage.  While the Sgian Dubh blade may be less than 6cm in length as each side of the blade mirrors the other, there is a risk it will be removed as an offensive weapon.

Kirpans

Carry-on bag Checked-in luggage
   

Kirpan is a small curved dagger.  To Sikhs, the kirpan is a blessing from the Guru and holds very high spiritual significance.

If the Kirpan’s blade is less than 6cm it can go as carry-on, otherwise it will need to go in checked luggage. Not all countries allow blades of any type on board an aircraft. If you are carrying a Kirpan of any length and transiting an overseas airport to and from New Zealand, you may need to speak to your airline representative.

Religious items

We understand some passengers may experience distress when items with significant religious meaning to a passenger are handled by Aviation Security officers (officer) during security screening.

Religious items are not exempt from security screening, here in New Zealand or elsewhere. This is because such an exemption would create a point of vulnerability that could be exploited by persons intending harm. Any such exemption would substantially reduce the effectiveness of security screening as persons intending harm could exploit the exemption by having persons carry religious items that contained prohibited items.

How to pack you religious items

While there is no exemption, there are steps passengers can take to reduce their religious items from being physically inspected, including:

  • Religious knives with blades longer than 6cm, swords and other religious items that can be used as weapons must be packed in checked baggage – no exception. If they are taken as carry-on they will not be allowed to travel.
  • Do not pack small or delicate religious items in your checked luggage – if the bag requires a search officers will physically inspect the content.
  • Place your religious items together, into a clear plastic bag or container, separate from other non-religious items.  Do not use a metal container as that will increase the likelihood of the items being physically inspected.
  • On arrival at the security area in the airport:
    • Tell the officer you are travelling with religious items that you prefer not be touched.
    • Place the clear plastic bag or container with the religious items into its own X-ray tray - do not place non-religious items into this tray.
    • Your other [non-religious] property must be placed in separate X-ray trays.    

These steps will not guarantee that your religious items won’t be subject to further search, but they should reduce the likelihood of that happening.

What happens if religious items are inspected

If x-ray image requires the religious items to be physically inspected you will be asked to consent to a search before the religious items are physically inspected. During the search the officer will be wearing gloves. If you do not consent to the search or withdraw consent for the search you will not be permitted to pass security screening.  If this happens you will need to speak with your airline as you could miss your flight.

Please ask our officers any questions you have on the security process that applies to religious items. If you have concerns, you can request to speak to a Duty Supervisor.

Package to protect your property

If you have concerns that your property could be damaged, here are four packing tips that will help protect it:

  1. If the item is fragile, wrap it in bubble wrap.  Bubble wrap provides significantly more protection than clothing or towels
  2. For added protection place in a suitable (quality) box
  3. Pad the box with additional bubble wrap to provide additional cushioning and prevent the item moving around. 
  4. Use quality adhesive tape to seal your box

If the item cannot fit in the overhead storage, the item will need to go as checked luggage. If you are concerned that the item could be damaged during carriage by air, you must consult with your airline to discuss appropriate carriage. There is a risk that the airline may refuse carriage of valuable items if you have not advised them before you travel.

Ask AvSec

If you have any questions about this topic, use our contact form, or email reception@avsec.govt.nz.