Can You Purchase Snus and Nicotine Pouches in New Zealand?

The origins of snus and nicotine pouches like ZYN lie in Sweden, more than 16,000 kilometers away from New Zealand. That hasn’t prevented Kiwis from developing a taste for these traditional Scandinavian products, but stores in the country cannot sell them. Instead, the only way to obtain snus and nicotine pouches in New Zealand is to import them for personal use.

The good news is that Snusdirect is very much open for business in New Zealand, and we stock various products that can be legally imported.

In this guide, we’ll run through current New Zealand legislation regarding nicotine products and how to buy some of the leading brands on the market.

Quick Takeaways

• Snus and tobacco-derived nicotine products can be imported into New Zealand for personal use.
• Synthetic nicotine products cannot be imported into New Zealand, unless for therapeutic use.
• Oral nicotine products cannot be distributed in New Zealand, but individuals can import them.
• Snusdirect sells a range of snus and nicotine pouches that can be imported into New Zealand.

The Legal Status of Oral Nicotione Products in New Zealand

In New Zealand, retailers can sell certain types of tobacco and nicotine products, although they are subject to strict regulations and restrictions. For instance, retailers can sell cigarettes, but they must smell of either menthol or manufactured tobacco.

Other categories of tobacco and nicotine products face even more stringent restrictions.

The New Zealand government updated the legal status of oral nicotine products in the country in January 2025, making it clear that it’s illegal to import them for retail or distribution (unless the products are approved medicines or psychoactive substances).ja det

Further guidelines from September 2025 state that:

“Any products where nicotine is absorbed primarily through the mouth by chewing or similar oral use must not be imported for sale, sold, packaged or distributed in New Zealand. This prohibition does not apply to products that have been given consent or provisional consent as a medicine under the Medicines Act 1981.”

However, this could be about to change. There have been some attempts to legalise these products, headed by Associate Health Minister Casey Costello. Now, the Cabinet has agreed in principle to allow the sale of snus and nicotine pouches.

These plans have attracted a lot of opposition, so it’s possible they won’t go through.

Can You Buy Snus in NZ?

Crucially, snus is an oral tobacco product. As a result, Kiwis won’t find snus in their local stores, but they can legally import it into New Zealand for personal use. Buying snus online is therefore legal, as long as you’re not planning to sell it to anyone else after.

This isn’t the case for products that use synthetic nicotine — but we’ll get to that shortly.

As well as snus, New Zealanders can import oral tobacco products like chewing tobacco and nasal snuff.

Are Nicotine Pouches Legal in New Zealand?

Although all nicotine pouches are oral nicotine products, their legal status can vary. This primarily depends on one factor — whether the product contains synthetic or non-synthetic nicotine (derived from the tobacco plant).

When pouches contain synthetic nicotine (meaning the nicotine is synthetically created in a lab), they cannot be legally imported into New Zealand — whether for distribution or personal use.

The only exception is when the product has been approved for medicinal or therapeutic use.

Fortunately, many of the most popular brands we stock here on Snusdirect do contain tobacco-derived nicotine.

Is ZYN Legal in NZ?

ZYN nicotine pouches use tobacco-derived nicotine, meaning New Zealanders are free to import them for their personal use.

However, bear in mind the Labour Government banned the sale of ZYNs and other nicotine pouches within New Zealand, so they won’t be sold in local stores.

Where Can I Buy ZYN from New Zealand?

Since ZYNs aren’t sold in local shops, buying them online is the easiest way to access them.

There are various online retailers that stock ZYN, including SnusDirect.

It may also be possible to travel with nicotine pouches on a plane and bring them into the country this way. However, it’s always best to check with the airline.

Which Other Nicotine Pouch Brands Are Available in New Zealand?

ZYN is probably the best-known nicotine pouch brand in the world, and there’s little denying that the products taste great. But believe it or not, there are other great brands out there!

Below, we’ve listed some of our best-selling options on Snusdirect.

Nico Nicotine Pouches

Nico nicotine pouches are Scandinavian through and through. They are produced in Scandinavia using traditional Swedish methods with premium Swiss ingredients, and quality is assured throughout the process.

NICO Ice Strong Slim 10mg provides a refreshing, cool taste focused on peppermint and contains 10 mg of nicotine.

Meanwhile, NICO Freeze Extra Strong Slim 11.5mg has a more potent peppermint flavor, with notes of menthol. This provides extra intensity, and it also contains more nicotine (11.5 mg per portion).

On! Nicotine Pouches

On! Nicotine pouches are another popular option. With fun flavors like Tropical Spice and Grapefruit Spritz as well as classics like Coffee and Mint, there’s something for everyone.

They’re made by major tobacco company Altria and come in various formats, including mint and slim.

VELO Nicotine Pouches

VELO might be a little-known brand in New Zealand, but it’s one of the biggest names on the market in Europe. Kiwis might just be missing a trick!

The popularity of VELO nicotine pouches is partly due to the wide range of flavors available, which include:

• Freezing Peppermint
• Purple Grape
• Bright Spearmint
• Tropical Mango

Where Can I Buy Snus in NZ?

Similarly, we sell a range of snus products on Snusdirect from popular brands like General, Göteborgs Rapé, Siberia, and Ettan.

Our selection includes:

• White portions
• Original portions
• Loose snus

As well as offering a very respectable selection, we pride ourselves on providing a convenient and effortless experience with competitive prices. We even have a rewards program that gives loyal customers free products when they build up points.

What if I Don’t Know if a Product Contains Synthetic Nicotine?

The New Zealand government has made it clear that individual consumers are responsible for verifying that a product is legal before they import it.

It says:

“If in doubt about the content of the product, including whether the nicotine content is derived from tobacco or is synthetic, the safest option is to not import, buy or use the product.”

We recommend sticking to the brands we’ve mentioned, but you can also contact us through the chatbot on our site. Our customer service team will respond promptly so you can buy in confidence!