Trans-Tasman travel

On 4 May 2009, the Cabinet Strategy Committee agreed to progress work towards implementing a new trans-Tasman passenger clearance model. The model improves the way functions are carried out at passport and biosecurity control at airports, which will streamline the processing of trans-Tasman passengers arriving in New Zealand. 

Trans-Tasman travellers will still require a passport and existing border control functions will not change. Passengers will however notice a difference in the next year — there will be less queuing at passport control in New Zealand and a faster exit from the airport, as low-risk passengers will not have their luggage x-rayed. 

Australian and New Zealand passport holders stand to benefit most from the changes, especially those holding an ePassport.

Border security will also be improved through better access to passenger information and smarter ‘behind the scenes’ risk assessment. This will allow border agencies to target their resources to those passengers that pose the highest risk.

In the future, most passengers will experience little interaction with border agencies (confirmation of identity and approval to travel) because security and biosecurity screening will happen ‘behind the scenes’. New Zealand’s strict biosecurity requirements will be met by Australia electronically transferring departure baggage x-ray images to New Zealand for risk assessment during flight.

Ultimately, arrivals processing will be completed at the departure point. By ‘front loading’ procedures at the point of departure and combining this with x-ray image transfer, the majority of passengers will experience a streamlined exit from the airport.

New Zealand and Australian officials have agreed to proceed jointly now with:

• Installation of SmartGate in New Zealand from 2009 – SmartGate is an automated passenger clearance system for use only by New Zealand or Australian holders of ePassports.  The system uses data in the ePassport and facial recognition technology to perform customs and immigration checks
• Changes to biosecurity screening in New Zealand from 2010, including risk profiling to identify high and low risk passengers and a proposed increased infringement fine for failing to declare of dispose of biosecurity risk goods         
• Further joint work: SmartGate integration feasibility study; 'Airports of the Future' study; possible independent feasibility study on the new passenger model.

New Zealand and Australia will work with the Queensland University of Technology and Brisbane Airport Corporation on the ‘Airports of the Future’ research project, which will run from 2009 – 2013 and trial some aspects of the new passenger processing model. 

New Zealand and Australia are also developing Terms of Reference for an independent feasibility study on full implementation of the new model, in consultation with industry. A trial of reciprocal criminal records data exchange is also being explored, as a way of managing immigration risk and improving border management between the two countries.

Proposed further work will provide more information on timing, costs and benefits of moving to full implementation.

The Border Sector Governance Group will formally report to the Biosecurity, Immigration, and Customs Ministers on progress towards full implementation of the new model by end March 2010. 

A report back to Cabinet on an x-ray initiative is due in February 2010, and on the initial SmartGate implementation in June 2010.

Installation of SmartGate

SmartGate is an automated passenger clearance system.  It is already operating at most international airports in Australia for arriving New Zealand and Australian ePassport holders and will soon be available in New Zealand.

• December 2009:  operational at Auckland International Airport for arriving trans-Tasman passengers
• Mid 2010: operational at Wellington and Christchurch international airports for arriving trans-Tasman passengers
• Operational at all three airports for departing trans-Tasman passengers by 2011.  

Having the same automated processing system in both countries will provide consistency for passengers, and will improve border agencies’ capacity to handle future increases in passenger numbers.

New Zealand and Australia will undertake a joint feasibility study on the integration of the two SmartGate systems.

Changes to biosecurity screening

New Zealand and Australia are moving towards a more targeted approach to assessing biosecurity risks and clearing passengers. 

New Zealand will implement a direct exit path for low risk passengers (initially at Auckland International airport) for New Zealand and Australian passport holders travelling trans-Tasman. This will potentially roll out in other airports and passport holders in the future.    

Passengers profiled as low risk passengers will be directed to a streamlined biosecurity clearance lane at passport control, which will allow for a faster exit for most passengers.

To further streamline the process for passengers arriving in New Zealand, MAF is exploring access to x-ray images taken in Australia to enable baggage to be screened for biosecurity risk items during flight. This technology could potentially be used by Customs to screen for other risk goods such as drugs. Australia is supporting New Zealand in the set up of this initiative.

 

Q and As