Tracker entry M48: New Zealand: NAIT animal identification
In force
New Zealand
Next date
OSPRI aims to finish rebuilding the NAIT system by the end of 2027
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Sector
- Livestock
- Imposed by
- OSPRI / MPI
- Applies to
- Cattle and deer keepers
- Technology
- RFID required (LF)
What the rule requires
Cattle and deer in New Zealand must carry NAIT-approved RFID ear tags and be registered and their movements recorded in NAIT. One-piece RFID tags are now allowed, and the levy rise funds a new NAIT system due by the end of 2027, which may change how farms and readers send data.
Status: In force since 2012; one-piece RFID tags approved 2025; levies up from 1 Sep 2026; new NAIT system due end of 2027
What it means for RFID
NAIT is a long-running low-frequency (LF) RFID scheme: cattle and deer must carry NAIT-approved RFID ear tags, and keepers must register animals and record their movements in NAIT. It has applied to cattle since 1 July 2012 and to deer since 1 March 2013.
Since the NAIT Board's approval in July 2025, keepers can use one-piece RFID tags as well as two-piece tags. From 1 September 2026 the cattle tag levy is $1.35 and the slaughter levy $1.91, and the increase funds a new NAIT system.
The date to watch is 2027: OSPRI aims to finish rebuilding NAIT by the end of 2027, which may change how farms and readers send data, something reader and farm software suppliers will need to follow.
Timeline
- NAIT-approved RFID ear tags compulsory for cattle
- Deer join the NAIT scheme
- NAIT Board approves one-piece RFID tags alongside two-piece tags
- Cattle tag levy rises to $1.35 and slaughter levy to $1.91
- OSPRI aims to finish rebuilding the NAIT system by the end of 2027
Sources
Official source: OSPRI
Last checked against the official source on 1 November 2026.
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