Media Release

12 October 2009

New Zealand immigration and law enforcement agencies will this week meet with Australia’s Ambassador for People Smuggling, Peter Woolcott, to discuss initiatives to combat people smuggling in the Asia Pacific region.

The Ambassador will be accompanied by Marion Grant, Deputy CEO of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, and immigration, police, legal and foreign affairs officials.

Head of Immigration New Zealand, Andrew Annakin, says the visit is part of ongoing collaboration between New Zealand law enforcement and immigration agencies and their counterparts in the Asia Pacific region to detect and combat people smuggling.

New Zealand is a member of the international Bali Process, which brings together countries, including Australia, to combat people smuggling and the trafficking in persons in the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

“As a member of the Bali process, New Zealand has an important role to play in ensuring people know the risks and dangers associated with people smuggling,” Mr Annakin says.

“New Zealand also works with our closest neighbour Australia to ensure source, transit and destination countries for people smugglers are well informed of the dangers.

“Those engaged in people smuggling and trafficking are committing serious crimes that cross international borders and damage many lives.

“Anyone caught smuggling or trafficking people, or assisting smugglers, can be prosecuted,” Andrew Annakin says.

Various meetings between the visiting Australian officials and their New Zealand counterparts are being held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade today.

ENDS