Updated 2.50pm: A large huntsman-type spider clutching her sac of eggs has been found in a shipping container at Auckland's port.

Quarantine officers located the spider during a recent inspection of a cargo shipment from the Pacific Islands.

North cargo manager Stuart Rawnsley says it's called a banana spider there, and is commonly found.

He says it's a pretty low biosecurity risk, but we still don't want them here.

"It's not dangerous to humans in that it doesn't have a toxic venom at all. But it can pierce human skin if it's aggravated."

He added that bites were rare, as the spider is generally docile.

Stuart Rawnsley says it's a relation of the Avondale spider - which came in from Australia in the 1920s.

"Quite distinctive - they have very long legs. They have a body about 4cms long. Quite long fangs up front, and the females will often be carrying around a sac of eggs if they are breeding at the time."