Police and explosives experts were called to Auckland airport on Saturday afternoon after a passenger tried to bring a World War II artillery shell through Customs.
The passenger arrived on a flight from Tahiti at about 12.40pm with the ordnance in his hand luggage.
A Customs official says it was treated as a live mortar round; police were notified and the bomb disposal team was called in to remove and dispose of it.
Airport staff say there was minimal disruption to passengers.
