Originally Posted by chinatraderjmr

BEWARE OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND CUSTOMS IF YOUR SINGLE, AMERICAN AND IN YOUR 30'S/40'S - I have NEVER been searched in my life - my passport shows I travel to 3-7 countries A MONTH for the last 10 years. (20 years cuz I always carry my expired passport as well) ..... I'm one of the few Americans that does not "Love" Australia anyway and luckily I don't do much business there and the business I do can be done by email.

Its just not worth the hassle

Originally Posted by skywalk

I am appalled by the reaction of some of the responses on this post. They seem so "knowing it all". Comment like "NZ would not do that without good reason, etc".
I am very offended, for the same treatment the op got, happened to me about ten years ago and I do not think I will ever go back to New Zealand. I went there to check out Auckland on my way to Sydney and Melbourne. Customs stopped me the moment they saw me and proceeded to keep me for over 2hrs. searching for drugs. After I say they had better arrest or let me go ---they let me go. Now I am an older guy and married but I was traveling alone. To me they are at the bottom of the sleazy countries and I am close to 50 countries visited. I can vouch for the op that New Zealand (customs) is the worst in the world ----that's my take so far.