Nature and scope of Customs' functions
The New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) contributes to government outcomes through law enforcement to protect and manage New Zealand’s border, and collect customs revenue. Broadly, Customs’ responsibilities involve protecting New Zealand from major threats and risks – including the Crown revenue base, while facilitating the legitimate movement of people, goods, and craft across the border with minimal disruption.3
Customs draws upon approximately 45 principal Acts, and numerous associated regulations and other border protection legislation. All of Customs’ functions fall within the scope for Vote Customs. These functions are:
› policy advice and services relating to border security, border management, and customs revenue – including policy advice and support to New Zealand’s trade negotiations; and advice and assistance to other customs administrations
› trade and travel facilitation › while using intelligence-based risk assessments that inform intervention strategies, including alerts for goods and people likely to present a risk
› services to control the risk of people, goods, and craft entering or leaving New Zealand illegally
› customs revenue assessment and collection, services relating to credit control and debt management, and collection and processing of fees and levies on behalf of other agencies
› investigations of trans-national organised crime, border and revenue offences, and services relating to the prosecution of offences and civil proceedings provided for under the Customs and Excise Act 1996
› whole-of-government coordination services through the National Maritime Coordination Centre (NMCC). The purpose of the NMCC is to maximise the efficient and effective use of government’s maritime patrol and surveillance assets, and related information, for civilian purposes.
Many of Customs’ activities across these functions involve working with other agencies, both in New Zealand and internationally, including other customs administrations.
The Minister of Customs is the Responsible Minister for the New Zealand Customs Service. The Responsible Minister oversees the Government’s ownership interest in Customs, which encompasses its strategy, service, capability, integrity, and financial performance.
3 Customs counters threats and risks in a range of areas that include: international terrorism, weapons of mass destruction proliferation, and trans-national organised crime; illicit drug trafficking; smuggling of prohibited goods, such as objectionable material and wildlife; Intellectual Property Rights infringements; fraud; customs revenue evasion; pandemics; and illegal removal of Māori taonga and other cultural heritage items from New Zealand.