Are Otters Legal in NZ? No — Why There Are No Pet Otters Here

No, otters are not legal to keep as pets in New Zealand. There are no wild or pet otters in the country, and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) offers no import pathway for otters as companion animals. Under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO Act), every otter species except the Asian small-clawed otter is listed as a prohibited new organism, so no approval can be issued to import or release them. The Asian small-clawed otter is not on that list, but it is a new organism approved by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for importation into containment — you can see Asian small-clawed otters at zoos such as Auckland Zoo.

The quick answer: Can you own a pet otter in New Zealand?

You cannot legally buy, own, import, or keep an otter as a pet in New Zealand.

While playful viral videos on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube frequently depict Asian small-clawed otters living in domestic apartments, these clips come from overseas. In New Zealand, border biosecurity rules and the HSNO Act mean there are no pet otters here.

MPI import controls: Zero companion animal import pathway

New Zealand’s geographical isolation has preserved one of the world's most unique and vulnerable island ecosystems. To shield local agriculture and indigenous species from exotic diseases, invasive competitors, and ecological disruption, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) enforces strict Import Health Standards (IHS) under the Biosecurity Act 1993.

Under MPI regulations governing companion animal arrivals:

• Approved companion mammals: The only domestic mammals permitted for general pet importation are domestic cats and dogs, along with rabbits and guinea pigs (from Australia only) and chinchillas (from Great Britain only).
• Otters excluded: Otters are not included in any companion animal Import Health Standard. Because no standard exists, no import permit can be issued to a private individual.
• Strict border interception: Any live animal without a valid, legally approved Import Health Standard cannot enter the country.

To review the exhaustive list of allowable companion species, consult the official MPI non-cat and non-dog pet import page.

Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act: New Organism status

Beyond border import restrictions, the legal status of introducing foreign species is governed by the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO Act), under which the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) decides whether a new organism can be imported.

Under the HSNO Act:

• Definition of New Organism: Any biological species that was not present in New Zealand immediately before 29 July 1998 is legally defined as a "new organism".
• Most otters are prohibited new organisms: Schedule 2 of the HSNO Act lists "subfamily Lutrinae, other than oriental small clawed otter (*Aonyx cineria*)" as a prohibited new organism. Under section 25(2), no approval can be issued to import, develop, field test or release any organism on that schedule — so for every otter species except the Asian small-clawed otter, there is no approval route into New Zealand at all.
• Asian small-clawed otter: This species is not prohibited, but it is still a new organism. The EPA's approval APP201517 covers its importation into containment, and one of the approval's controls is that the approved organisms "must be contained".
• Containment facilities only: Under that approval, a containment facility is a place approved by MPI under section 39 of the Biosecurity Act 1993, and unauthorised persons must be excluded from it. The application was made by the Zoo and Aquarium Association, and its stated purpose is to reassess zoo animals approved for importation into containment. Auckland Zoo is one New Zealand zoo that holds Asian small-clawed otters.

Animal welfare concerns and the viral "pet otter" trend

World Animal Protection reports that Southeast Asia has seen a massive rise in the popularity of otters as pets, and that a rise in social media posts falsely depicting otters as good pets is driving the demand. It says this popularity is fuelling illegal hunting and trafficking of otters, including baby otters, and describes keeping an otter as a pet as cruel and potentially dangerous. It also reports that Asian small-clawed and smooth-coated otter populations have declined by more than 30% in the last 30 years. Following decisions at the CITES CoP18 meeting in August 2019, both species were moved to Appendix I, which means international trade in them is prohibited for commercial purposes.

Auckland Zoo describes Asian small-clawed otters as very sociable animals that live in groups of up to 18, use 12 or more unique vocalisations, and communicate with a musky scent from glands at the base of the tail.

Legal aquatic companion alternatives in New Zealand

While pet otters are not an option in New Zealand, animal lovers fascinated by aquatic and semi-aquatic creatures can explore legal alternatives:

• **Axolotls (*Ambystoma mexicanum*):** For those fascinated by unique aquatic pets, axolotls are completely legal to keep, breed, and purchase across New Zealand. These Mexican salamanders spend their entire lives in freshwater aquarium setups and thrive when provided with cool water and proper filtration. Read our complete guide to axolotl legal status in New Zealand.
• Coldwater and Tropical Aquariums: Keeping well-maintained freshwater planted tanks with legal fish species offers a rewarding way to engage with aquatic biology.
• Understanding Exotic Pet Laws: To learn more about how New Zealand categorises restricted, banned, and permitted foreign species, explore our detailed overview of exotic pets banned and restricted in New Zealand and our explanation of restricted versus prohibited exotic pets.

Summary

You cannot own an otter as a pet in New Zealand. Otters are not native to New Zealand, and MPI has no pet import pathway for them. Under the HSNO Act 1996, every otter species except the Asian small-clawed otter is a prohibited new organism, and the Asian small-clawed otter is approved for importation into containment, such as at zoos.

Sources

• Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) — Bringing pets to NZ (other than cats and dogs): https://www.mpi.govt.nz/bring-send-to-nz/pets-travelling-to-nz/bringing-pets-to-nz-other-than-cats-and-dogs
• New Zealand Legislation — Biosecurity Act 1993: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0095/latest/DLM314623.html
• New Zealand Legislation — Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, Schedule 2 (Prohibited new organisms): https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1996/0030/latest/DLM386556.html
• Environmental Protection Authority — Approval APP201517 (reassessment of zoo animals approved for importation into containment): https://www.epa.govt.nz/assets/FileAPI/hsno-ar/APP201517/APP201517-S67-amendment.-Approval-containing-amendments-to-the-original-decision.-Sept-2020.pdf
• Auckland Zoo — Asian small-clawed otter: https://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/animals/otter
• World Animal Protection NZ — Otters, tortoises and other animals in the cruel exotic pet trade now have increased protection: https://www.worldanimalprotection.org.nz/news/otters-tortoises-and-other-animals-cruel-exotic-pet-trade-now-have-increased-protection/