I’ll be attending the New Zealand Tionol in June. As is the case I’m interested in finding out about taking bagpipes into New Zealand. The problem being that the UP’s are made out of [often] natural materials such as wood, lether, metals and cane.
Sometimes the cane is untreated and this could be a seriouse problem with customs. In New Zealand Spanish can is a pest and they really don’t like more being taken into the country . Nor does Oz for that matter .
Whats your previouse experience with this issue? Virgin Airlines (Australia) has no problems with bringing instruments onto their aircraft. As long as security is permited to look at the contents. I have appsolutaly no problem with that! When I travelled to Adelaide last I had no problems.
Main issues. Is it worth the trouble? Should travell insurance be taken out on the pipes?
Just traveled between the US and Ireland with 2 sets of pipes and carried both by hand in one case. Security looked inside very briefly (no significant examination) and had no issues. Customs in Ireland asked what was in the case (never mind that the case said “Winchester” on it) as I was walking through, and were satisfied with my response, “Uilleann pipes”, and said ok. No other issues whatsoever.
I think the L42B’s problem is more with the extra sensitive nature of NZ and Aussie customs when it comes to importing exotic plants or parts thereof. I’ve no personal experience but do know that the Aussies are very careful about what they let in. Too many “cane toad” type experiences.
Aussie or NZ pipers or pipemakers would be your best bet.
I was hoping that some NZ’lander pipers would say high. I’ll email the Tionol organiser tonight and ask him about it. One of my friends who is going is bringing her harp (which her husband made). Which is even more ackward than pipes.
PJ, that’s my issue…even if the plants are dead (from previouse experience) they weren’t even allowed in. The sticking point is going to be with the cane in the reeds. As AurandoDonax (spelling) is a pest in NZ.
Edit:
Just for Laugh.
One of my friends tried to bring GHB pipe seasoning into the to the country on arrival as is the right thing to do. He declared his items that he was bringing into Oz. They where an assortment of reeds and other bagpipe goods on the table. As the officer quickly looked over contents. He picked up the bagpipe seasoning. “Sorry Sir, he said. Your not allowed to bring food stuffs into the country.” With that he threw it into the bin.
You would have absolutely no probs with customs in Australia. It’s amusical instrument like oboes and bassoons and I’m sure they’ve got those things going through every day.
I once brought some Indonesian Angklungs in from Indonesia (funny that ). They are musical rattle-type instruments made up of bamboo tone-tubes suspended in rotan frames. The customs guy had a glance over them and as he was doing so, I noticed for the first time, as he did too, that there were cob-webs inside some of the tubes. Still, he had no probs with them and let them through just like that.
If there is evidence of pin-holes made by insects such as borers, then the item will have to be quarantned or destroyed. I brought in a wooden mask from Indonesia with borer holes and they offered to treat it, but that would have cost ten time the price of the mask, so I let them keep it. (t’s probably adorning the wall of some cutom officers loungeroom now).
i went to perth w.a. a few years ago. the airport was full of notices telling people they couldn,t bring in exotic plants and animals, even if they were dead. they siad that even butterflys in frames were forbidden as they could still be carrying bacteria or viruses.
I forgot to mention, I also imported two kilos of Arundo Donax from Medir in Spain in tube form. It had been opened by customs for inspection and passed, so like I said, you’d have no worries whatsoever. I’ve taken my pipes to Indonesia and back again - no worries with customs. In fact they were more concerned with some tubes of oil paints and pastels and paint brushes that my Father-in-Law had given me in Indonesia.
. Nor does Oz for that matter 
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