Annual Report 2005-2006 - New Zealand Customs Service

Customs remained a key
contributor to the World Customs
Organisation (WCO) through
membership of the Finance
Committee and regional steering
committee, and attendance at the
Regional Heads of Customs meeting
and various technical committees.
New Zealand was successful with
its nomination for a place on the
WCO Policy Commission and will
take up that role from July 2006.
In June 2005, the WCO
established standards for Customs
administrations for secure trade
‘‘
(The Framework of Standards to
Secure and Facilitate Global Trade).
The standards provide guidance to
Customs administrations on trade
security programmes, including
principles for customs-to-business
programmes similar to New Zealand’s
Secure-Exports-Scheme. The
New Zealand example was an
important one in the development
of the WCO’s standards.
The importance of New Zealand’s
close ties and trading relationship
Principles, a written commitment
with Australia was reinforced in
to cooperate on supply chain
2005/06 by the establishment,
security, including working towards
following trans-Tasman Ministerial
mutual recognition of our respective
talks, of a high-level steering group
supply chain security schemes.
to address trans-Tasman border
The importance of this relationship
issues. A key achievement of the
was recognised by the establishment
group in 2005/06 was the creation
of a new Customs post in
of a single immigration and customs
Washington DC, in August 2005.
queue for inbound Australian and
The emergence of China as a
New Zealand passport holders at major
Australian airports. There was also
major trading partner for New Zealand
agreement to create a joint Automated
was reflected in the establishment
Passenger Processing Strategy by
of a new Customs post in Beijing,
mid-2007. In relation to trans-Tasman in November 2005. This post is
trade, the Service is responsible supporting the development and
for establishing a working group to consequent implementation of the
address processing improvements for Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between
cargo travelling across the Tasman. New Zealand and China, and will
This work will be advanced in 2006/07. also provide a basis for improved
New Zealand’s unique trade
cooperation and sharing of operational
security relationship with the
information on enforcement issues.
United States was reflected in
Establishment of the Beijing and
a significant increase in activity
Washington posts complements
supporting the bilateral relationship. Customs’ established international
A series of high-level meetings with presence. The Service now has posts
the United States Customs and in Sydney, Bangkok, Brussels, Beijing
Border Protection Agency culminated and Washington, fulfilling a range of
in the signing of a Declaration of policy, enforcement, and trade roles.
Customs’ international
engagement increased in
’’
significance during 2005/06...
The increasing emphasis on
ensuring a secure and prosperous
South Pacific resulted in an
increase in Customs’ activity in the
Pacific region during 2005/06.
Together with other countries and
organisations, Customs is working
to enhance border security and
the facilitation of travel and trade
throughout the Pacific, in order to
increase security and economic
sustainability in the region. Key areas
of engagement in 2005/06 included
ongoing support for the Oceania
Customs Organisation (OCO),
including seconding a staff member
as Head of the OCO Secretariat,
and assisting in building the capacity
of the Tonga Customs Service,
in conjunction with the Australian
Customs Service, by seconding a
New Zealand Customs officer as
Deputy Head of the Tonga Customs
Service for 12 months. Customs
also established a Pacific Liaison
Officer position for a 12-month pilot,
to strengthen relationships between
the New Zealand Customs Service
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