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Disability Issues Minister and Customs Minister Nicky Wagner will travel tomorrow to the United States to attend the Conference of States Parties (COSP) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. COSP is the annual meeting for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD).

“New Zealand is considered a world leader in disability issues. The Conference of States Parties is the pre-eminent annual disability-related event, and is an opportunity to promote New Zealand’s achievements and discuss ideas on the world stage,” Ms Wagner says.

Extra Budget funding will help exporters take full advantage of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and avoid the risk of costly delays at overseas borders, Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Customs Minister Nicky Wagner today welcomed law changes to help protect New Zealand at the border.

Budget 2015 invests an extra $4.7 million of operating funding over four years to fund extra officers to screen departing international passengers for security threats such as terrorism and drugs, Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says.

This initiative is part of a range of measures in Budget 2015 to improve security at the border, involving Immigration, Customs and Biosecurity.

A new border clearance levy will help the Government to protect New Zealand from imported pests, diseases, illegal drugs and contraband and bring us in line with border approaches by other countries, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Customs Mi

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner today congratulated Customs’ newest detector dog team, black Labrador Flame, and Customs Officer Andrew, after they graduated at the Police Dog Training Centre in Trentham.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse and Customs Minister Nicky Wagner today congratulated agencies for the latest successful drug-related operation targeting the production and supply of methamphetamine in Auckland.

Operation Wand and Operation Sorrento recovered 123 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of over $120 million in the Auckland region in late March. Nine individuals have been arrested and charged.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner acknowledged the valuable assistance the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) Detector Dog Breeding and Training Centre has provided New Zealand Customs, on a visit to the Centre in Melbourne.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says a meeting with Australian Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Hon Peter Dutton, in Canberra has further strengthened the valuable relationship between New Zealand Customs and the Australian Customs and Bord

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says the relationship between NZ Customs and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service will be further strengthened by the exchange of officers based in New Zealand and Australia’s targeting centres.

“In June a senior Customs operations analyst will take up a liaison role based at Australia’s National Border Targeting Centre, and a similar Australian appointment will be based at our Integrated Targeting Operations Centre (ITOC) in Auckland later this year,” Ms Wagner says.

Customs Minister and Minister for Disability Issues Nicky Wagner will travel tomorrow to Australia to visit her counterparts and foster trans-Tasman cooperation across both portfolios.

“New Zealand Customs and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service enjoy a strong relationship and work collaboratively to ensure effective border management in both countries,” Ms Wagner says.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says the 2014-2015 summer season saw record numbers of passengers and goods cross New Zealand’s border.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner today welcomed the renewal of the Customs Import and Export Prohibitions (CIPO and CEPO) on toothfish, restricting toothfish imports and exports for another three years.

“The renewal of restrictions on importing and exporting toothfish ensures effective controls are in place to protect this deep water species,” Ms Wagner says.

“New Zealand is a party to the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources that seeks to halt the decline of toothfish stocks.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says that a new state of the art drug analyser funded by proceeds of crime has made finding drugs at the border easier and safer during the first six months of use.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner today released a discussion paper proposing changes to the Customs and Excise Act.

“Customs’ core roles will remain the same – protecting the border, facilitating trade and travel, and collecting Crown revenue. The review will ensure the legislation governing Customs is fit for purpose,” Ms Wagner says.

“The Government initiated the review of the Customs and Excise Act due to the legislation’s inability to efficiently respond to changes in technology and business practice.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says promoting voluntary compliance at the border is helping Customs track ahead of Treasury’s forecast revenue and saving traders money.

“Helping importers and excise payers improve data integrity and avoid administrative penalties is a win-win for taxpayers and businesses. Revenue is being raised ahead of forecast and traders are avoiding costly penalties,” Ms Wagner says.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says a crackdown on an international drug ring is a great example of how overseas agencies working together can protect each other’s borders.

“The global drug trade causes immense harm to communities and the Government is committed to working with agencies around the world to combat it at the border,” Ms Wagner says.

“Last week, a joint operation between Shenzhen Customs, Hong Kong Customs and the Australian Federal Police resulted in a 106 kilogram methamphetamine seizure and seven arrests.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says working with China Customs to establish their own cash detector dog training programme will benefit both countries.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says New Zealand and China Customs authorities are a step closer to establishing a system to enhance trade assurance and facilitation under the New Zealand China Free Trade Agreement.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner today paid tribute to the service of Customs staff over the past 175 years as she visited the Old Customhouse in Russell, New Zealand’s first Customhouse.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says passenger numbers at New Zealand airports increased by five percent in December, compared to the same period in 2013, making the 2014 Christmas period the busiest since the Customs Service was formed 175 years ago.

“More international passengers travelled through New Zealand airports over Christmas than ever before. This is a fitting way to mark 175 years of the Customs Service in New Zealand,” Ms Wagner says.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner today congratulated the New Zealand Customs Service on the eve of its 175th anniversary of service protecting New Zealand’s border.

The second largest methamphetamine border seizure in New Zealand’s history means a very large quantity of harmful drugs will not make it to New Zealand streets these holidays, says Customs Minister Nicky Wagner.

On 5 December, Customs intercepted approximately 22.6 kilograms of methamphetamine, worth over $22 million. The drugs were hidden in the cargo of an international flight that arrived in Auckland from Taiwan. A joint Customs and Police operation codenamed Operation Georgie was launched.

The more than 800kg of tobacco and cigarettes left at the border since 1 November is a further step towards reducing the damage caused by smoking, say Customs Minister Nicky Wagner and Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.