16 February 2012
The Government’s three border agencies are stepping up work to improve the efficiency and co-ordination of New Zealand’s border services.
Primary Industries Minister David Carter, Customs Minister Maurice Williamson and Immigration Minister Nathan Guy today announced “Future Directions for the Border Sector”, a work programme to look at how the three agencies can operate together more effectively.The goals of the work are to make travel and trade easier, improve the efficiency of our border services, and ensure border security and biosecurity protection are maintained or enhanced.
Already, we are carrying out a wide range of collaborative work across the agencies and “Future Directions” will build on the progress already made.
The programme will take a fresh look at the functions of each agency and how the co-ordination of the overall border management system can be improved. It will look at a range of areas including:
- Improvements to passenger clearance processes at airports
- Improvements to cargo clearance processes, especially for low-risk goods
- Aligning and streamlining “trusted trader” programmes, particularly for air cargo
- Continuing to explore opportunities to outsource functions to the private sector when designing changes to service delivery.
- Developing a cross-agency strategy and common approach to risk targeting
- Leveraging implementation of technology improvements and initiatives like the Joint Border Management System and the Immigration Global Management System.
We appreciate that many of our stakeholders will be interested in this work and what it will mean for the way the border is managed. We would like to emphasise that border security and biosecurity remain our key priorities. As the programme progresses we will be engaging with our stakeholders and seeking their input.
With trade and travel patterns changing and growing, we need to ensure our border is going to be fit for the future. “Future Directions” provides an excellent opportunity for finding ways of working more effectively, harnessing technology and developing new and innovative approaches that will deliver better public services.
If you have any questions about this programme, please get in touch.Wayne McNee, Director General, MAF
Carolyn Tremain, Chief Executive, NZ Customers Service
Warwick Tuck, Deputy Chief Executive, Immigration NZ