Well remembered Alex.

Firstly, lean on your agent for advice - this is what you pay them for!

You'll need Customs clearance and MAF clearance. Make sure you check whether your agent will arrange MAF inspection or whether they expect you to do it. The inspection will be to check for contamination (leaves, seeds etc) on the bike plus they also verify chassis number and possibly odometer (this varies by MAF officer!).

This inspection can normally be completed without taking the bike out of the crate. Maybe removing just the top and one side will be sufficient.

I would recommend you being present for this inspection. If there is luggage on the bike, they may want to look inside (and most officers would appreciate assistance to open these. Also, you would be able to ask officer when the details are likely to lodged in computer.

Whilst you are waiting for this inspection, you should speak to the freight depot to discuss how to get your bike out of there. Some will allow you to remove bike from crate, re-attach front wheel, gas it up, connect battery and generally prep it for riding. Others will require you to take the bike still crated.

I won't bore others with details for your container here, but if you want, please call or email me - 09 634 4948 / martynf@tapper.co.nz.

Good luck