Outcome: Facilitation
New Zealand’s economic, social, environmental and cultural interests are sustained and enhanced by facilitating the flow of legitimate trade, travel, and goods, and Māori taonga and other treasured items, across the border.
KEY IMPACTS
› Low compliance costs are maintained
› Minimal interventions and good border experiences for legitimate traders and travellers are sustained.
WHAT ARE WE SEEKING TO ACHIEVE?
Customs contributes to New Zealand’s security, trade, and tourism by managing risks to New Zealand’s interests, while facilitating legitimate trade and travel across the border. For a border agency, effective facilitation occurs when threats and risks are managed in a way that does not cause undue delays or cost for the majority of legitimate traders and travellers who comply with their obligations. We are continually seeking to improve the experience for legitimate travellers, and keep the compliance burden and processing times faced by traders and travellers to a minimum, consistent with effective border management. We will work with other border agencies and stakeholders towards enhancing New Zealand’s reputation as a preferred tourism destination and host for international major events.
WHY IS THIS OUTCOME IMPORTANT?
Within the global economy, New Zealand competes for tourists and trade with other countries having comparable benefits. As for other nations, the quality of New Zealand’s customs administration can either enhance or disrupt New Zealand’s reputation as a safe, secure, trustworthy, and efficient country to visit, move to, or do business with. First impressions are lasting impressions.
EFFICIENT BORDER PROCESSES FOR TRADE AND TRAVEL
Trade
Internationally, trading countries seek greater efficiency and trade support through more integrated systems and processes. Border agencies are leading the drive through trade agreements that require harmonised border systems and compliance processes.
Domestically, Customs and border sector agencies seek greater efficiency and better service delivery, by achieving higher levels of process and systems integration – between border agencies, and with industry and other stakeholders. Customs and other border agencies are working with industry to introduce the Trade Single Window – an electronic portal linking industry with border agencies.
Travel
Tourism remains an important industry for New Zealand despite the current economic downturn. Customs’ place at the border means we and other border agencies will continue to have an important role as a positive first and last impression of New Zealand. As visitors do not necessarily distinguish between agencies at the border, it is important for border agencies collectively to provide efficient and effective service. To this end, Customs and other border agencies are working to develop more streamlined border processes at airports for travellers. We are also seeking more integrated processes with Australia for clearance of passengers on trans-Tasman routes. Such processes will significantly reduce the compliance burden on low risk travellers.
WHAT WILL WE DO TO ACHIEVE THIS OUTCOME?
Customs will contribute to New Zealand’s economic prosperity through more streamlined border processes and systems, while managing risks appropriately, and providing effective service delivery. The Facilitation outcome is delivered through services in five of the 10 Output Classes for Vote Customs.14
Customs' priorities
Other areas of focus
14 The Facilitation outcome is delivered through the following output classes: Policy advice; Intelligence and risk assessment services; Clearance of international passengers, crew, and craft; Clearance of import, export and excise transactions; and Technical advisory services. See the Protection and Revenue outcomes also.