A Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) inspector at Auckland Airport found the 5cm arachnid still "clearly alive and capable of inflicting a sting".
The "clearly shocked" passenger repeatedly asked the inspector whether there were any more scorpions in the tent.
"After further inspection, we were able to confirm there wasn't," said Craig Hughes, MPI's northern border clearance manager for passengers and mail.
He said it is rare for biosecurity staff to find scorpions.
But he warned it was very easy for dangerous pests to crawl inside camping equipment and said the incident should serve as a reminder for arriving international passengers to thoroughly clean camping gear.
"We keep an eye out for used camping items, but passengers can do their bit for New Zealand's biosecurity by cleaning their gear before they jump on a plane to visit or return home to New Zealand," Mr Hughes said.
"An established scorpion population in New Zealand is the last thing the tourism industry and the public in general want to see here."
The scorpion has since been destroyed.
