Animal Welfare Requirements

Animals are not able to travel if they:

• are sick or injured (unless certified fit for travel by a veterinarian)
• are in their final trimester of pregnancy
• have given birth in the past 14 weeks
• are under 8 weeks old or still weaning

If animals are travelling in a crate, box or kennel in your vehicle:

• Animals must be able to stand, turn around and lie down with a natural posture
• Adequate ventilation must be provided in the vehicle, crate, box or kennel i.e. windows down, unobstructed and/or crates sufficiently vented with 20% surface area opened and un-obstructed. 
• All animals must have access to water.

Kennels can be booked on our website if your vehicle, crate, box, or kennel does not meet these conditions.

Your animal may remain inside your vehicle but make sure it has access to water and windows are left down leaving a gap of 7cm. Alternatively, you can book a kennel for your animal to travel in. 

Before you board

Please feed, water, exercise and toilet your animal before bringing it on board. There are dog areas at both terminals. Keep an eye out for signs or our ask our staff.

If you are a foot passenger with a dog or other animal you must book a kennel.

If you are booking a kennel for your dog, please make sure it has water. It may pay to bring a bowl with you. Kennels can hold one large dog or two small dogs.

At check-in let our staff know you are bringing an animal on board.  They will assess your vehicle, crate, box, or kennel and the animal and they will give you a tag to hang from your rear-view mirror. They will ensure your vehicle is loaded on the ship in the best available position for animals.

Listen for an announcement during your sailing and a crew member will take you down to check on your animal. This cannot always be guaranteed and is subject to sea conditions and the Ship Master’s approval.

Failure to meet these animal welfare requirements may result in our staff requiring you to purchase a kennel for your animal to travel or exercising our right to refuse to carry you (and your animal) for safety reasons (fare conditions will apply).

Certified Assistance Dogs

Certified assistance dogs are allowed on board but please let us know at time of booking. You will be responsible for the welfare of the dog at all times. Please note that sea travel can be distressing for animals and the safety and comfort of other passengers should not be compromised. Certification is accepted from:

• Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust
• Blind Low Vision New Zealand
• Hearing Dogs New Zealand
• NZ Epilepsy Assist Dog Trust
• Mobility Dogs
• Perfect Partners Assistance Dogs Trust
• K9SEARCH Medical Detection NZ

Emotional, therapy or comfort animals are not permitted in passenger areas and must travel in a vehicle or kennel.

While on board:

• The dog must wear an identification tag with the owner's name, address and telephone number;
• During the sailing your dog must be restrained by its lead and seated on an absorbent mat which you’ll need to bring with you;
• You will need to prepare your dog for the journey by exercising and limiting its fluid intake for several hours before boarding the ferry. 

Horses and Ponies

Your horse needs to be in good condition to travel

• Your horse/pony should not travel if they are unwell, sick or injured (unless certified fit for travel by a practicing vet).
• Horses in the last three months (90 days) of pregnancy should not be travelling on the ferry unless given clearance by a vet.
• Foals less than four weeks of age must not be transported.
• Unweaned foals over four weeks of age must be transported with their dam and require a trailer ‘box stall’ type of set up that would allow the dam and foal to move around the area.
• Weanlings should be allowed a period of at least 4 weeks after separation from their dam to allow for feed adjustment and the mental and physical stress of the weaning event to subside.
• You may want to talk to your vet about using a supplement such as a calming paste.

Download a copy of our animal welfare requirements