Extra Funding for Counter Terrorism Efforts

Rt Hon Helen Clark
Prime Minister of New Zealand

29 January 2002

Media Statement

Extra funding for counter
terrorism efforts

The government has decided to increase funding for counter terrorism
activities, Prime Minister Helen Clark today announced today.

Eight government agencies and departments will share the extra funding. It
totals $26.916 million in operating expenditure and $2.894 million in capital
expenditure running from now until 2003/4. The new operating funding will
continue to run at just under $14 million per annum from 2003/4.

Helen Clark said the 11 September attacks had heightened the security risk
internationally and caused the government to take a closer look at security
issues.

"While New Zealand is geographically remote and an unlikely target, the
possibility of terrorist attack can never be ruled out. In addition New Zealand
needs to be alert to any possible connections between terrorist networks, their
activities, and people living in New Zealand.

"New Zealand has international obligations to assist in efforts to combat
terrorism. UN Security Council resolutions in the wake of 11 September require
UN member countries to introduce stronger measures to combat international
terrorism.

"Since the attacks on the United States, the government has devoted
considerable efforts to counter terrorism measures. To date this work has been
done by a redirection of resources within departments. That approach cannot be
maintained in the longer term.

"The government has decided, therefore, to direct $26.916 million of new
operating funding over this financial year and the next two to a number of
agencies involved in counter terrorism and border protection. In subsequent
years funding is set to continue to run at the 2003/4 level.

The Immigration Service will receive an extra $4.124 million, Customs an
extra $6.020 million, Police an extra $3.555 million and the Defence Force an
extra $370,000. Parliamentary Services will receive an extra $1.124 million.
Three other agencies, the SIS, the GCSB and the External Assessments Bureau,
will together receive an extra $11.723 million over the three financial years.

$2.894 million of capital funding will be shared between intelligence
agencies, Civil Defence and the Defence Force.

Helen Clark said the new funding will strengthen New Zealand's protective
security measures.

"This includes enhanced border control, aviation security, and protective
security measures at high profile or significant facilities.

"The funding will also improve our intelligence agencies' ability to collect
and evaluate foreign and domestic intelligence. A particular focus of their
efforts will be to prevent New Zealand from being used as a safe haven to plan
and facilitate terrorist attacks elsewhere.

"The new funding will also allow us to improve New Zealand's capacity to
respond to specific security incidents such as terrorist emergencies, including
those of a chemical or biological nature, and coping with the aftermath of
incidents.

"The increased funding is a measured response to the international security
environment which we now face, and demonstrates again New Zealand's commitment
to international efforts to combat terrorism," Helen Clark said.

Hon Jim Anderton
Deputy Prime Minister, Acting
Minister of Customs

30 January
2002

Media Statement

Customs gets extra $3 million
per annum to counter terrorism

"Three million dollars per annum of new funding for Customs will be used to
help prevent New Zealand being used as a base for terrorism overseas or as a
transit point for international terrorism," says Acting Customs Minister Jim
Anderton.

"New Zealand may not be under threat directly but we need to play our part in
keeping other countries and the international community free from terrorist
attacks.

"The extra funding will enable Customs to work more closely with other
agencies both in New Zealand and internationally, to better track and identify
travellers and cargo that may be linked to terrorist networks.

"There will be more physical inspections of cargo and a higher level of
monitoring of planes and ships as a result of this increased funding.

"Funding will also go to the state-of-the-art Customs computer system,
CusMod, which alerts Customs Officers to travellers and cargo that represent a
high risk.

"Customs has already boosted its information and intelligence-gathering
initiatives and its hands-on checks on some goods and travellers since September
11, from within existing resources.

"Customs will continue to build on its close working relationships with MAF
Quarantine and the New Zealand Immigration Service at the border.

Jim Anderton says all Customs information gathering and sharing is governed
by New Zealand legislation, including the Customs and Excise Act, the Privacy
Act and the Official Information Act.

"The Labour Alliance Coalition Government is also planning some changes to
legislation to ensure Customs is provided electronically with accurate
information about goods shipments, and to provide more flexibility in sharing
information with overseas law enforcement agencies," said Jim Anderton.

Hon Mark Burton
Minister of Defence

30 january 2002

Media Statement

Responding to chemical and
biological terrorism

The New Zealand Defence Force is to establish a unit to respond to chemical
and biological terrorism, Defence Minister Mark Burton announced today.

"The Defence Force already maintains bomb disposal squads to deal with any
conventional threat from terrorists," Mark Burton said.

"However, no New Zealand agency currently has a dedicated team to identify
and render safe chemical or biological devices or threats.

"The government has therefore decided to establish a Chemical and Biological
Terrorism Response capability based in Wellington, which can link up with the
existing bomb disposal squads as and when required.

"Additional capital funding of $1.84 million has been added to the defence
budget to allow for the purchase of the equipment needed for chemical and
biological detection. Additional annual funding of $185,000 per annum has been
provided to maintain the capability.

"The New Zealand Defence Force will now source and procure the necessary
equipment, train personnel and establish appropriate response procedures with
the Police and other emergency agencies.

"In the longer term, dealing with chemical and biological threats will become
part of the standard training for all defence force personnel.

"As a consequence of the terror attacks in the United States, the government
has recognised the need for a heightened state of domestic security in New
Zealand against the possibility of further terrorist activities.

"The establishment of a response capability within the New Zealand Defence
Force to deal with any chemical or biological incidents is an important part of
this enhanced security," Mark Burton said.

Hon George Hawkins
Minister of Police

30 january 2002

Media Statement

Strong police response planned to combat terrorism

Additional police staff at airports and a dedicated terrorism investigation
and intelligence group, are among a range of counter-terrorism initiatives,
announced by Police Minister George Hawkins today.

The government is putting $2.57 million a year by 2003/4 into the police
component of a wider package of measures designed to combat terrorism.

"We have identified areas where New Zealand's counter-terrorism response
capability can be significantly improved and we are allocating additional
funding to support that capability," said George Hawkins.

The package of police initiatives designed to improve New Zealand's
counter-terrorism response capability includes:

• The establishment of 26 full-time equivalent sworn police positions to
  provide ongoing security at New Zealand's six major airports - Auckland,
  Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, and Rotorua;
• The establishment of a permanent Police Terrorism - Investigation and
  Intelligence Group;
• The establishment of police liaison posts in Washington DC and London to
  enhance intelligence gathering and ensure the coordination of operational
  responses to terrorism.

"The government's counter-terrorism measures reflect the government's
commitment to strengthening New Zealand's security measures.

"The allocation of additional funding demonstrates our determination to not
only strengthen New Zealand's counter-terrorism capability, but to ensure that
the response is ongoing.

"I am confident that the initiatives that have been announced will contribute
significantly to New Zealand's national security and border protection," George
Hawkins said.

Hon Lianne Dalziel
Minister of Immigration

30 january 2002

Media Statement

Boost in immigration efforts against terrorism

Improved immigration systems to screen out 'risk' travellers before they
arrive in New Zealand are included in a counter-terrorism package announced by
the government today.

"The new measures focus on checking the validity of travel documents of New
Zealand-bound travellers, and are aimed at strengthening the NZ Immigration
Service's ability to manage irregular migration risks," Immigration Minister
Lianne Dalziel said. The improved systems will cost over $2 million per annum.

"We are looking at the Advance Passenger Processing system, already adopted
in Australia, to give the Immigration Service sufficient notice of New
Zealand-bound passengers to enable early intervention if there are concerns.

"The Service will improve interdiction activities at various transit points.
This will involve assisting airline staff to screen all passengers before
boarding.

"The Service will also investigate instant fines for airlines. Once the
Advance Passenger Processing system is in place, airlines will be able to carry
out pre-boarding passenger checks. Where they fail to do so and where an
irregular migrant travels to New Zealand without the appropriate documentation,
we will look at an instant fine on the airline in addition to the existing
provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Convention,"
Lianne Dalziel said.

Other immigration measures include:

• improving information sharing with overseas government agencies to enhance
  character and identity checks
• funding for continued use of Mangere Reception Centre as an alternative to
  imprisonment where security and/or identity issues arise, or to accommodate mass
  arrivals
• looking at community based accommodation options for refugee status
  claimants released from detention under conditions

"The Immigration Service's job is to be facilitative, however, we must adopt
a risk management approach to deal with irregular migration. These operational
changes are designed to ensure that New Zealand's relative vulnerability does
not increase as like-minded countries enhance their security measures," Lianne
Dalziel said.

Hon Lianne Dalziel
Minister of Immigration

30 january 2002

Media Statement

Extra Funding for Counter Terrorism Efforts

Summarised on a Capability Basis

Note. All increases are calculated from existing FY2001/02 baselines.

($ million)	FY 2001/02	FY 2002/03	FY 2003/04	Total
Operating
Improving Understanding	1.376	6.550	7.121	15.047
International Relationships		0.805	1.030	1.835
Protective Security		4.152	5.512	9.664
Operational Response		0.185	0.185	0.370
Total	1.376	11.692	13.848	26.916
Capital
Improving Understanding	0.600	0.300		0.900
International Relationships
Protective Security
Operational Response	0.150	1.844		1.994
Total	0.750	2.144		2.894

Summarised on a Departmental Basis

Note. All increases are calculated from existing FY2001/02 baselines.

($ million)	FY 2001/02	FY 2002/03	FY 2003/04	Total
Operating
Intelligence agencies (EAB, GCSB and SIS)	1.376	4.888	5.459	11.723
NZIS		2.062	2.062	4.124
Customs		3.010	3.010	6.020
Police		0.985	2.570	3.555
NZDF		0.185	0.185	0.370
Parliamentary Services		0.562	0.562	1.124
Total	1.376	11.692	13.848	26.916
Capital
Intelligence agencies	0.600	0.300		0.900
DIA (MCDEM)	0.150			0.150
NZDF		1.844		1.844
Total	0.750	2.144		2.894