Pet Breed Guide NZ
Ferret
Ferrets are small, curious members of the weasel family, but there is no ordinary way to get one as a pet in New Zealand. DOC says ferrets are an unwanted organism and that the sale, distribution and breeding of ferrets as domestic pets has been banned since 2002. New Zealand still has wild ferrets, and DOC treats them as animal pests.
Photo Gallery
NZ Ownership Snapshot
Restricted in NZ- Noise Level
- quiet
- Social Needs
- solitary
- Animal Type
- ferret
- UVB Required
- No
Ferrets are an unwanted organism in New Zealand. DOC says the sale, distribution and breeding of ferrets as domestic pets has been banned since 2002, and that handling an unwanted organism needs permission from MPI. Section 7C of the Wildlife Act 1953 also bars farming, breeding or selling ferrets unless authorised. The Wildlife (Farming of Unprotected Wildlife) Regulations 1985 count keeping more than 3 as domestic pets as farming, which needs a licence, and ban keeping ferrets in captivity on any island other than the North and South Islands. NZ Customs lists ferrets among the animals you can't bring in.
Breed Snapshot
- Size
- small
- Lifespan
- 6-10 years
- Origin
- Europe
- Care Focus
- Curious and active animal.
- NZ Price
- Not available in New Zealand — the sale, distribution and breeding of ferrets as pets has been banned since 2002.
Personality Scores
NZ Lifestyle Fit
Ferrets are not an option for new pet owners in New Zealand. DOC says the sale, distribution and breeding of ferrets as domestic pets has been banned since 2002, and that handling an unwanted organism needs permission from MPI. NZ Customs lists ferrets among the animals you can't bring in. Regional councils can also control ferrets through pest management plans, so check your own regional council's plan. An advert is not evidence that a sale is legal. If you want a small pet, look at guinea pigs, rabbits, or pet rats and mice instead.
Ferrets are an unwanted organism in New Zealand. DOC says the sale, distribution and breeding of ferrets as domestic pets has been banned since 2002, and that handling an unwanted organism needs permission from MPI. Section 7C of the Wildlife Act 1953 also bars farming, breeding or selling ferrets unless authorised. The Wildlife (Farming of Unprotected Wildlife) Regulations 1985 count keeping more than 3 as domestic pets as farming, which needs a licence, and ban keeping ferrets in captivity on any island other than the North and South Islands. NZ Customs lists ferrets among the animals you can't bring in.
About the Ferret
There is no ordinary way to get a pet ferret in New Zealand. DOC says ferrets are an unwanted organism and that the sale, distribution and breeding of ferrets as domestic pets has been banned since 2002. This page explains the species and the NZ legal reality; it is not a care guide. For the full legal detail, see are ferrets legal in NZ.
Ferrets (Mustela furo) are members of the weasel family, with slender, flexible bodies. They were introduced to New Zealand from Europe in the 1880s, along with stoats and weasels, to control rabbits, and by 1900 they were well established in the wild. The Merck Veterinary Manual gives them a life expectancy of 6 to 10 years.
What They Look Like
Ferrets possess a distinctive long, slender body, short legs, and a bushy tail, perfectly adapted for navigating tight spaces. Males (hobs) are larger than females (jills): the Merck Veterinary Manual lists about 2 kg for males and 1.2 kg for females. Their coats come in a variety of colours, including sable (the most common, dark brown with a cream undercoat), albino (white with red eyes), dark-eyed white, silver, cinnamon, and chocolate. They have small, rounded ears and bright, inquisitive eyes. Their fur is soft and dense, providing insulation, and they have scent glands that produce a musky odour, which is part of their natural communication.
Personality & Behaviour
Ferrets are incredibly playful and curious creatures, known for their bursts of high energy followed by long periods of sleep (up to 75% of the day). When awake, they are highly interactive, enjoying games of chase, wrestling, and exploring every nook and cranny. They communicate through various sounds, including 'dooking' (a soft clucking sound when happy) and hissing (when agitated). They also have a natural instinct to 'cache' or hide items.
Life in New Zealand
New Zealand still has wild ferrets, and DOC treats them as animal pests. DOC says they love eggs and attack and kill chicks and adult birds, even adult kiwi. Geckos and skinks are also at risk, as is threatened giant wētā, and DOC says ferrets threaten New Zealand's farming industry because they can carry bovine tuberculosis (Tb).
The rules that matter to a would-be owner:
- Buying: DOC says the sale of ferrets as domestic pets has been banned since 2002. Section 53 of the Biosecurity Act also bars the owner or person in charge of an animal they know or suspect is an unwanted organism from selling it or offering it for sale, unless a chief technical officer gives permission, and section 7C of the Wildlife Act bars selling ferrets unless authorised. An advert is not evidence that a sale is legal.
- Breeding: Section 53 also bars that owner or person in charge from breeding the animal without that permission, and section 7C and the 1985 regulations separately require authorisation or a licence.
- Importing: NZ Customs lists ferrets among the animals you can't bring in.
- Keeping: We found no permission route aimed at ordinary pet owners. DOC says that to handle an unwanted organism, you need to apply to MPI for permission. When the ban was announced in 2002, the Conservation Minister said it would exempt current pets and existing ferret farms, but with a life expectancy of 6 to 10 years, pets from before the ban are very unlikely to still be alive.
- Your region: Auckland Council says you must not breed, distribute, release or sell any mustelid (ferret, stoat or weasel) in its region. Regional councils can control ferrets through pest management plans, so check your own regional council's plan.
What to Consider Instead
If a small pet is what appeals to you, these can be kept in New Zealand:
- Guinea pigs: DOC names them among introduced animals that might be kept in homes as pets, and MPI allows them to be imported as pets from Australia. See our guinea pig legal guide.
- Rabbits: MPI allows rabbits to be imported as pets from Australia. In the Auckland region, you must not abandon any rabbit or hare.
- Pet rats and mice: They can't be imported as pets, so they have to come from within New Zealand. In the Auckland region, you must not release any rat from containment or release any mouse.
Sources
- Department of Conservation. Ferrets, checked 2026-11-05: https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/pests-and-threats/animal-pests-and-threats/ferrets/
- New Zealand Legislation. Biosecurity Act 1993, section 53, checked 2026-11-05: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0095/latest/DLM315364.html
- New Zealand Legislation. Wildlife Act 1953, section 7C and Schedule 8, checked 2026-11-04: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1953/0031/latest/DLM277204.html
- New Zealand Legislation. Wildlife (Farming of Unprotected Wildlife) Regulations 1985, checked 2026-11-04: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/secondary-legislation/pco-drafted/1985/201/en/latest/
- NZ Customs Service. Bringing pets and animals into New Zealand, checked 2026-11-05: https://www.customs.govt.nz/travel-to-and-from-new-zealand/move-to-new-zealand-permanently/import-pets-and-animals
- Ministry for Primary Industries. 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
- Department of Conservation. Wildlife Act 1953, checked 2026-11-05: https://www.doc.govt.nz/about-us/our-role/legislation/wildlife-act/
- Auckland Council. Mustelids, checked 2026-11-05: https://www.tiakitamakimakaurau.nz/protect-and-restore-our-environment/pests-in-auckland/pest-search/musfur/
- Auckland Council. Rabbits and hares, checked 2026-11-05: https://www.tiakitamakimakaurau.nz/protect-and-restore-our-environment/pests-in-auckland/pest-search/orycun/
- Auckland Council. Rats, checked 2026-11-05: https://www.tiakitamakimakaurau.nz/protect-and-restore-our-environment/pests-in-auckland/pest-search/ratrat/
- Auckland Council. Mice, checked 2026-11-05: https://www.tiakitamakimakaurau.nz/protect-and-restore-our-environment/pests-in-auckland/pest-search/musmus/
- NZ Herald. Government to ban pet ferrets (28 March 2002), checked 2026-11-05: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/government-to-ban-pet-ferrets/PB6VTFPQUYW35APFPFZJIMDZBQ
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Ferrets at a glance, checked 2026-11-05: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/ferrets-at-a-glance
Fun Facts
Fact 1
Ferrets sleep up to 75% of the day, often in a deep 'dead sleep'.
Fact 2
A group of ferrets is called a 'business'.
Fact 3
They have an incredibly flexible spine, allowing them to turn 180 degrees in tight spaces.
Fact 4
Ferrets are naturally curious and will 'cache' or hide shiny objects or food in secret stashes.
Fact 5
Their 'ferret dance' involves excited hops, tumbles, and head shaking, often when they are happy or playful.
Related Breeds
Holland Lop Rabbit
The Holland Lop is a compact lop-eared rabbit developed in the Netherlands in the 1950s by crossing French Lops with Netherland Dwarfs, and it remains one of the smallest lop breeds at roughly 1.4 to 1.8 kilograms. Its signature ears hang alongside a broad, short head, and the dense rollback coat comes in a wide range of colours and patterns including solid, broken, tort and opal. Temperament is the main draw: Holland Lops are calm, good-natured and quiet, happy to be petted, yet playful enough to binky and explore when given floor time. They are social animals that do best in pairs, and they can be litter-trained, which makes them practical indoor companions. Care is daily rather than difficult, covering unlimited hay, fresh greens, spot-cleaning, weekly grooming and two to three hours of supervised exercise in a rabbit-proofed space. With a lifespan of 7 to 12 years, they suit quieter households prepared for a decade of routine care.
Abyssinian Guinea Pig
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Mini Lop Rabbit
The Mini Lop is a compact, stocky rabbit developed in Germany from the German Lop, easily known by the broad ears that hang either side of the head. Adults weigh about 1.4 to 2.7 kg, carry a dense soft coat in solid, broken and shaded colours, and often live seven to fourteen years, so this is a long-term commitment. The breed's reputation rests on temperament: calm, friendly and affectionate, quick to seek out attention, playful when young and steadier as an adult. Mini Lops are bright enough to be litter-trained and to learn their names, and being social they generally do better kept in pairs. Daily care means unlimited hay as the bulk of the diet, a small pellet ration, fresh greens, spot-cleaning, and two to three hours of supervised exercise in a secure run or rabbit-proofed room, plus vaccination against rabbit haemorrhagic disease. A gentle choice for a family able to keep that routine going for years.
Mini Rex Rabbit
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New Zealand White Rabbit
The New Zealand White is a calm, well-muscled medium rabbit with a dense, pure white coat; most are albino with red eyes, though blue-eyed whites also occur. Adults usually weigh 4 to 5.5 kg and live 5 to 8 years. The breed was developed through crosses in the United States, with ties to New Zealand as well, and was first kept for meat and fur before becoming a show and companion animal. Temperament is docile, and the breed is curious enough to explore readily and bond closely with its people, staying most active around dawn and dusk. Digging and chewing are natural behaviours here, so digging boxes and chew toys earn their place. Daily needs are a hay-led diet, three to four hours of supervised exercise in a secure, rabbit-proofed run, spot-cleaning, and nail trims every four to six weeks. It suits a patient household with floor space and room for a bonded pair.
Dumbo Rat
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