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Released information

This page contains information released to the public relating to the Border Executive Board (BEB). Member agencies will also release border related information on their websites.

The BEB was the first interdepartmental executive board (IEB) set up under the Public Service Act 2020. It started on 11 January 2021. The timing aligned with the need for stronger border collaboration and accountability as New Zealand responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The BEB was set up to help co-ordinate the management of the New Zealand border including:

  • removing gaps in border processes
  • addressing risks from people, goods, and craft arriving and departing the border
  • making strategic improvements to the border system.

In October 2025, Cabinet agreed that the BEB change to a sector leadership group with a Cabinet mandate and Ministerial oversight.  The change came into effect from 1 January 2026. 

The change acknowledged that the BEB had embedded stronger accountability arrangements to identify and address shared risks, issues, and opportunities across the border system and make it easier to work with industry.  The level of entity compliance and participation in Parliamentary processes of an IEB is now considered excessive.

The BEB retained its overall purpose to coordinate the management of a safer and smarter New Zealand border. Cabinet kept the BEB accountabilities with minor wording updates.  

History of oversight arrangements

  • BEB as a sector leadership group from 1 January 2026.
  • BEB as an interdepartmental executive board under the Public Service Act 2020 from 11 January 2021 – 31 December 2025.
  • Border Sector Governance Group as a chief executive’s group from 2027 to December 2020.

Key documents

Scenarios and estimates of future border volumes of incoming passengers and cargo through the aviation and maritime borders. 

The scenarios are updated every six months and provide a common and consistent basis for agencies to use for planning and to share with industry partners.

BEB as a sector leadership group

The strategic direction as an interdepartmental executive board remains relevant and will be used to inform the work as a sector leadership group, until it is revised.

BEB as an interdepartmental executive board

Strategic directions required under the Public Finance Act 1989. Progress is reported in BEB Annual Reports.

Border sector strategy required from the Cabinet accountabilities.

Annual Reports required under the Public Finance Act 1989 for activity between 1 July and 30 June each year.  Financial and appropriation information is included in the New Zealand Customs Service Annual Report Corporate publications

The BEB completed assurance reviews to support the contribution to the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The first set of border measures for travellers were implemented from 2 January 2020.  The border fully reopened from 31 July 2022.

Maritime COVID-19 scenarios for cruise ships

  • Briefing for the Minister for COVID-19 Response to support the reopening of the maritime border to foreign flagged vessels and cruise ships.
  • The briefing is dated 27 September 2022.
  • Maritime COVID-19 Cruise Scenarios (PDF, 4 MB)

Review of border worker testing and vaccination (maritime and aviation) – phase two

Rapid review of border worker testing – phase one

  • Assurance that border workers at an MIQ facility who were required to be tested were being tested.
  • Final report is dated 21 June 2021. All recommendations were closed or incorporated into business as usual activity.
  • Rapid Review of Border Worker Testing Phase One (PDF, 1.3 MB)

Review of COVID-19 border measures (maritime)

  • Assurance that the maritime border measures were being applied effectively and to identify any improvements.
  • Final report is dated 9 December 2021. All recommendations were closed or incorporated into ongoing activity.
  • COVID-19 Maritime Border Measures Tranche Two Review (PDF, 392 KB)

Review of COVID-19 border measures (aviation)

  • Assurance that the air border measures were appropriately managed, minimising the opportunities for the spread of COVID-19.
  • Final report is dated 2 October 2020. Border agencies took steps to implement the recommendations of the review and tighten processes, procedures and information sharing around COVD-19 and border security.  
  • Review of COVID-19 Border Measures – Tranche One (Aviation) (PDF, 1.3 MB)