Dangerous Goods Freight in NZ: A Plain-English Guide for Small Businesses

If your business ships anything that could be considered hazardous — cleaning products, paint, fuel, compressed gas, batteries, agricultural chemicals — you're dealing with dangerous goods freight, whether you know it or not. Getting it wrong isn't just an operational headache; it carries real legal and safety consequences.

Here's what you actually need to know, without the jargon.

What counts as dangerous goods?

In New Zealand, dangerous goods are classified under the Land Transport Rule: Dangerous Goods 2005, which aligns with the international UN model regulations. They're grouped into nine classes:

• Class 1 — Explosives

• Class 2 — Gases (including LPG, aerosols, compressed air)

• Class 3 — Flammable liquids (paint, solvents, petrol)

• Class 4 — Flammable solids

• Class 5 — Oxidisers and organic peroxides

• Class 6 — Toxic and infectious substances

• Class 7 — Radioactive material

• Class 8 — Corrosives (acids, cleaning agents, battery fluid)

• Class 9 — Miscellaneous (lithium batteries, dry ice, magnetised materials)

Many everyday business products fall into these categories. If you're a hospitality supplier shipping cleaning chemicals, a winery sending product with CO2 systems, or a hardware retailer distributing paint, you're likely handling Class 3 or Class 8 goods.

What are your responsibilities as the consignor?

The person or business sending the freight (the consignor) carries significant responsibility under NZ law. Before handing goods to a carrier, you are required to:

Ensure the goods are correctly classified, packaged, and labelled according to the relevant standard. Provide accurate documentation — typically a Dangerous Goods Declaration — that travels with the freight. Ensure packaging is appropriate for the hazard class and the transport method. Notify your carrier in advance that the shipment contains dangerous goods.

Passing undeclared dangerous goods to a carrier is a serious offence. It puts drivers, depot staff, and other freight at risk — and liability sits firmly with the sender.

What your freight carrier needs from you

A good carrier will have staff trained in dangerous goods handling and will ask the right questions before accepting your shipment. But they need accurate information from you to do their job properly. When you book a dangerous goods shipment, have the following ready: the UN number and proper shipping name for the substance, the hazard class and packing group, the total quantity being shipped, and a completed Dangerous Goods Declaration if required.

If you're not sure whether your product qualifies as dangerous goods, the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the product is the best starting point. Section 14 covers transport information and will tell you the UN number and classification.

What happens if you get it wrong?

Misdeclared or undeclared dangerous goods can result in fines for the consignor, refusal of freight by the carrier, potential prosecution under the Land Transport Act, and in serious cases, safety incidents that affect people and property. It's not an area where it pays to guess.

The practical takeaway

If your business ships anything that might be hazardous, take the time to check the classification, make sure your packaging and labelling meets the standard, and work with a carrier who understands their obligations. A good freight partner will help guide you through the process — but the responsibility for accurate declaration starts with you.

MD Freighting is trained and equipped to handle dangerous goods across our Marlborough and Nelson delivery network. If you have questions about whether your freight qualifies or how to prepare your shipment, give us a call before you book.