Ordering vaping products online in New Zealand is straightforward, but it works a little differently from other online shopping because every product is R18 and regulated. This guide explains exactly what happens from checkout to delivery, using Vapourium's process as the example. Information is current as of September 2026.

Who can buy vaping products online in NZ

You must be 18 or over. Every vaping product sold in New Zealand has to be notified to the Vaping Regulatory Authority before it can be sold, and retailers must verify a customer's age before delivering an online order. Vapourium is an approved specialist vape retailer, which is what allows us to sell our full range of flavours both in store and online. For the wider rules, see our NZ Vaping Regulations 2026 guide.

Step 1: Place your order

Browse, add to cart and check out as you would on any online store. The website shows combined stock across all of our stores, so if something is in stock online it is available to ship. Prices are the same online as in store unless a store is running its own promotion.

Step 2: Verify your age (first order only)

After checkout you will see a short form asking you to upload a photo of your ID (driver licence, passport or 18+ card). We check it, mark your account as verified, and ship your order. You only need to do this once. Every later order on the same account ships without another check. Orders that have not been verified are held, so having your ID handy at checkout is the single best way to avoid a delay.

Step 3: Dispatch

Orders placed before 2:00pm on a business day are packed and handed to NZ Post the same day from our Dunedin or Timaru stores. Orders placed after 2:00pm, on weekends or on public holidays go out the next business day. Every parcel is tracked and you will receive the tracking number by email.

Because stock is held in more than one store, an order with several items is occasionally split into two parcels with separate tracking numbers. There is no extra charge for this. If part of your order arrives first, the rest is on its way.

Step 4: Delivery times

• Non-rural NZ addresses: overnight in most cases.
• Rural addresses: 2 to 3 business days. You must select the rural shipping option at checkout; NZ Post charges a rural surcharge and parcels sent as standard to a rural address are held until it is paid.
• Saturday delivery: available for non-rural addresses as an $8 upgrade, as long as the order is placed before 2:00pm on Friday. Saturday delivery is not available for rural addresses.

Courier delays do happen, particularly around public holidays and severe weather. Tracking will show where a parcel is.

What shipping costs

Address type	Cost	Free shipping threshold
Standard (non-rural)	$5	Orders over $75
Rural	$9	Orders over $150
Saturday delivery (standard only)	$8	Not applicable

These rates changed in May 2026 after NZ Post increased courier pricing. The current figures are always on our Shipping Guide.

Ordering from outside New Zealand

• Australia: Australia has banned the personal importation of vaping products, so we cannot ship there. See our Australia Vape Regulation page.
• United States: since the US removed its de minimis duty exemption on 29 August 2025, all imports require duties and detailed customs data. We no longer ship to the US.
• Everywhere else: NZ Post Economy, $45 NZD, 7 to 14 business days. Check your own country's import rules first, because parcels stopped at customs are not refundable.

Returns and faulty products

Unopened, unused products in resellable condition can be returned with proof of purchase within 3 months. Change-of-mind returns are at the buyer's cost for shipping; if we sent the wrong item we cover it. If a device arrives faulty or stops working as expected, contact us first: some items need to come back for assessment before a replacement or refund. Nothing in our policy limits your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993. Full details are on our Returns & Warranties page.

Quick checklist before you order

• Have your ID ready if this is your first order.
• Order before 2:00pm on a weekday for same-day dispatch.
• If your address is rural, choose the rural shipping option.
• Use the same account each time so your age verification carries over.

Need a hand?

Email customerservice@vapourium.nz or call 03 974 8136, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm. You can also visit us in Central Dunedin, South Dunedin or Timaru.