Pet Breed Guide NZ
Green Iguana
The Green Iguana is not legally keepable in New Zealand due to biosecurity laws; this page explains the regulations and legal reptile alternatives.
Photo Gallery
NZ Ownership Snapshot
Prohibited in NZ- Noise Level
- quiet
- Social Needs
- solitary
Green Iguanas cannot be legally kept as pets in New Zealand. MPI does not allow reptiles to be imported as pets (only some reptiles for zoos), and under the HSNO Act 1996 the green iguana is a "new organism": outside zoos, which hold them under an EPA containment approval, there is no lawful way to keep one here.
Breed Snapshot
- Size
- large
- Lifespan
- 10-15 years
- Origin
- Central/South America
- Care Focus
- Enclosure-focused reptile with handling tolerance and activity needs that should be checked in a species-specific care guide.
- NZ Price
- NOT AVAILABLE IN NZ — prohibited species, no lawful source or price
NZ Lifestyle Fit
Not legal to keep as a pet in NZ. MPI does not allow snakes or other reptiles to be imported as pets (only some reptiles for zoos). Under the HSNO Act 1996 the green iguana is a "new organism": NZ zoos hold it under the EPA's containment approval for zoo animals (APP201517), and a new organism cannot be imported or released without EPA approval (s25); knowingly, recklessly or negligently possessing one imported in breach of the Act is an offence (s109). Sources: mpi.govt.nz (Bringing pets to NZ other than cats and dogs); legislation.govt.nz (HSNO Act 1996); epa.govt.nz (APP201517). Checked 29 September 2026.
No — you cannot legally keep a Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) in New Zealand. While these large, herbivorous lizards are common in the international pet trade, they are strictly prohibited under New Zealand's environmental protection legislation. Outside zoos, which hold them under an EPA containment approval, there is no lawful way to keep one here, and they cannot be imported as pets.
Why Green Iguanas are not legal in NZ
Green Iguanas are a "new organism" under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996 — the ones in New Zealand zoos are held under an EPA approval for zoo animals in containment. A new organism cannot be imported or released without an approval from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), and knowingly, recklessly or negligently possessing one that was imported in breach of the Act is an offence.
Separately, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) does not allow snakes or other reptiles to be imported as pets (only some reptiles for zoos). The Green Iguana is not on the EPA's list of prohibited organisms (organisms, such as snakes and venomous reptiles, that can never be approved), but that does not make it legal to import or keep as a pet.
Green Iguanas pose a substantial biosecurity threat. If they were to escape and establish in the wild, their herbivorous diet would put immense pressure on native Kiwi flora, and they could introduce exotic pathogens to native geckos and skinks. The Green Iguana is also absent from the New Zealand Herpetological Society's list of exotics commonly kept in New Zealand — the NZHS is a hobby society, not a regulator, so that list is not an approval list.
People have tried to smuggle them in: in October 2016 an Auckland-based zoology student was convicted of attempting to import an iguana, a corn snake and five veiled chameleons. You can read about these biosecurity violations on the Wikipedia Wildlife Smuggling in New Zealand page.
What if someone offers you one?
Because there are zero legal breeding lines of Green Iguanas in New Zealand, any individual offered for sale should be treated as illegal. Smuggling wild animals or purchasing smuggled new organisms is a severe offence under both the Biosecurity Act 1993 and the HSNO Act 1996. Doing so carries heavy penalties, including substantial fines and potential imprisonment.
Smuggled reptiles undergo no quarantine, meaning they carry an extremely high risk of importing devastating reptile diseases (such as adenovirus or ranavirus) that could wipe out native lizard populations.
If you are offered a Green Iguana or witness someone advertising one for sale online, you should report it immediately to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) via their confidential biosecurity hotline at 0800 80 99 66. Reporting these incidents helps safeguard New Zealand's native ecosystem.
Legal reptiles to keep instead
If you are fascinated by large, impressive reptiles but want to stay strictly within the law, New Zealand has excellent alternatives that are legally bred and kept by Kiwi hobbyists:
- Bearded Dragon: The Central Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps) is an excellent alternative. They grow to a substantial size (around 50-60 cm) and are widely regarded as one of the friendliest and most interactive lizards in the world. Read our bearded dragon guide to learn more.
- Blue-Tongue Skink: The Eastern Blue-Tongue Skink (Tiliqua scincoides) is another large, docile, and legal exotic reptile. Keep in mind that they are managed as regional pests in some areas (like Auckland), which restricts breeding and sale, but keeping existing pets remains legal. Read our blue-tongue skink profile for details.
Sources
- Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). Prohibited organisms in New Zealand, checked 2026-07-04: https://www.epa.govt.nz/industry-areas/new-organisms/prohibited-organisms-in-new-zealand/
- Wikipedia. Wildlife smuggling in New Zealand, checked 2026-07-04: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_smuggling_in_New_Zealand
- New Zealand Herpetological Society (NZHS). Exotic pets — a hobby society's list of exotics commonly kept in New Zealand (not an approval list), checked 2026-09-28: https://www.reptiles.org.nz/herpetofauna/exotic-pets
- Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). Bringing pets to NZ (other than cats and dogs), checked 2026-09-29: 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. Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (s2A, s25, s109, Schedule 2), checked 2026-09-28: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1996/0030/latest/whole.html
- Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). Approval APP201517 — zoo animals in containment (Table 2 lists the green iguana), checked 2026-09-28: 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. Green iguana, checked 2026-09-29: https://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/animals/green-iguana
Fun Facts
Fact 1
Green Iguanas possess a 'parietal eye' or 'third eye' on the top of their head, which can detect changes in light and shadow, helping them sense aerial predators.
Fact 2
Their prominent dewlap is not just for display; it also helps them regulate their body temperature by increasing the surface area exposed to the sun or air.
Fact 3
Iguanas are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath for extended periods, using their powerful tails to propel themselves through water.
Fact 4
Despite their name, Green Iguanas can change their colouration to shades of blue, orange, or brown depending on their mood, health, temperature, and even social status.
Fact 5
They have extremely sharp, serrated teeth designed for shearing plant material, and can deliver a painful bite if threatened.
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Leopard Gecko
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