Immigration, Customs and Airlines Sign Memorandum of Understanding

Friday 11 March 2005

Protecting the country’s border has been significantly improved through the cooperative efforts of the Government border agencies and airlines that fly into New Zealand.

This is reflected in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between New Zealand’s airlines and border agencies which was signed today.

The memorandum recognises a long-standing relationship between the Department of Labour’s Immigration Service, New Zealand Customs Service and the Board of Airlines Representatives New Zealand (BARNZ).

“While the department, Customs and BARNZ already have an excellent working relationship, this MOU formalises this and clarifies procedures, roles and responsibilities of each organisation,” says Customs Air and Marine National Manager John Secker.

An MOU between airlines and the department was originally signed 10 years ago but this has been revised to reflect the significant increase in border security introduced since 11 September 2001.

These measures include:

• Customs providing an enhanced frontline service on the behalf of immigration
• Introduction of Advance Passenger Processing and Advance Passenger
  Information
• Increased airport and airline security measures*

More stringent security measures and more vigilant passenger screening is the reality of travelling in today’s world,” says Stewart Milne, BARNZ Executive Director.

“This requires a high-level of information sharing and co-operation”, says Department of Labour Deputy Secretary Mary Anne Thompson. “The combined effort of airlines and border agencies is therefore essential to ensure that our border is protected by preventing those who are not eligible to enter or transit New Zealand and assisting those who are.”

NOTES
* Advance Passenger Processing (APP)
APP was part of the Government’s anti-terrorism package announced in
January 2002 in response to September 11.