Minister's Foreword

The Government’s driving goal is to deliver greater prosperity, security, and opportunities to all New Zealanders. New Zealand’s ability to trade and to attract tourists is critical to achieving this goal, and depends on our ability to compete on the world stage. This is partly influenced by New Zealand’s reputation as a safe and secure country to trade with and travel to.

Customs is justifiably recognised as a world leader in trade security, and broadly for its high standards of service to New Zealand’s trade and tourism, and the work it does to reduce the supply of drugs and other contraband crossing the border. Customs has managed to achieve its high standards in the face of increasing threats and risks, particularly from the spread of trans-national organised crime, and associated links to illicit drug trafficking and smuggling.

Customs’ contribution to New Zealand’s prosperity and security is reflected in the three priorities for 2009/10 that have been agreed by the Prime Minister:

› Advance integration of trans-Tasman border clearance
› Develop and implement the Joint Border Management System and Trade Single Window
› Increase the interceptions of illicit drugs and precursor materials entering New Zealand.

Advance integration of transtasman border clearance is Customs’ highest priority. Collectively, Customs and border sector agencies seek to integrate trans-Tasman border clearance – particularly by implementing faster passenger clearance processes for Australian and New Zealand passport holders flying trans-Tasman routes – and focus on trade in the near future.¹ The longer-term aim is to secure and improve the way we facilitate trade, travel and tourism between our two countries.

Develop and implement the Joint Border Management System and Trade Single Window involves the shared efforts of Customs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to replace CusMod² – the current border management system – due to its age and limited capability. As the only system that monitors all people, goods, and craft entering and leaving New Zealand, CusMod is critical to what Customs knows about threats and risks to the border. The additional component, Trade Single Window – an electronic portal – would introduce a new capability for industry to link with border agencies, reducing bureaucracy and costs over time for both parties.

Increase in interceptions of illicit drugs and precursor materials entering New Zealand recognises the growing risk to New Zealand communities from illicit drugs and precursor materials used to manufacture ‘P’ crossing the border. These priorities will continue to challenge Customs’ resourcefulness, particularly in managing increasing risks, while achieving better, smarter, and more efficient services at the border – by working both independently and collaboratively with other border agencies and independently. This Statement of Intent sets out how Customs is going to progress these priorities over the next three years, and the resulting value to government and other stakeholders.

Minister’s Statement of Responsibility

I am satisfied that the information on future operating intentions provided by my department in the New Zealand Customs Service Statement of Intent 2009 – 2012 is in accordance with sections 38, 40, and 41 of the Public Finance Act 1989 and is consistent with the policies and performance expectations of the Government.



Hon Maurice Williamson
Responsible Minister for
New Zealand Customs Service
28 May 2009





¹ The border sector is comprised of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Transport, Department of Labour (Immigration), Food Safety Authority, Department of Internal Affairs, and the New Zealand Customs Service.
² CusMod means “Customs Modernisation” and is the term used to describe Customs’ Information Technology system. CusMod is a complex system that receives a wide range of customs data, and provides a mechanism for processing passengers, goods, and information.