1. Overview of the Portfolio
New Zealand’s border management agencies and systems support both our national prosperity, and security. As a trading nation and tourist destination we need to promote international confidence that New Zealand is free from corruption, screens entry and exit thoroughly, maintains a secure supply chain and is thus a good country to trade with or visit.
Government agencies at the New Zealand border work collaboratively, guided by a border sector collaboration strategy. The New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) needs the ability to meet changing service demands and to ensure that our work effectively supports integrated border sector management.
Collaboration at the Border
We are currently working in partnership with other border agencies on some significant shared strategic, operational and capital projects that will define the future effectiveness of overall border sector management. The major systems initiative that will underpin future border management is being developed by Customs with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and is known as the Joint Border Management System. In addition to this system, Customs is investigating automated passenger processing technology.
We consider that these initiatives represent the foremost policy and resource-related issues within the portfolio that will require major choices and investments to be made over the next three years.
International Relationships
Good international relationships are essential to Customs’ work and their value and significance are highlighted in this briefing. As an example of our high level international engagement, the Comptroller is currently the Chairman of the World Customs Organisation. Relations with Australia are of particular importance for assuring effective border management. Regular collaboration between Customs officials of Australia and New Zealand occurs on significant initiatives of mutual interest concerning trans-Tasman travel and trade. Customs also contributes to the negotiation, implementation and facilitation process of bilateral trade agreements. Other key policy and operational relationships include the United States, China, Japan and the Pacific. Currently, New Zealand Customs has cooperative arrangements in place with a number of other Customs administrations.
Customs People
Alongside systems and technologies, people-related capabilities such as skills, knowledge and professionalism will determine Customs’ future performance.
The average age, skills and experience of our workforce is now changing as a large group of older experienced staff have started retiring. This is taking place over a relatively short timeframe – that is, the next 5 years. This departing institutional knowledge needs to be rebuilt through focused recruitment, training, staff development and succession planning initiatives.
Ministerial Support
Currently within Customs, there are people and processes for providing ministerial support together with various mechanisms for regular and special purpose reporting. Ministerial support arrangements will be tailored to meet requirements.
We aim to ensure the Minister is fully supported in the portfolio role and that there are ‘no surprises’ concerning Customs’ work.