3888 (2024). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs

3888 (2024). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs: How many parcels has NZ Customs inspected containing imported goods with a declared value of between $400 and $1000, on a monthly basis since Hon Casey Costelllo became Minister?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised by the New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) that parcels sent to New Zealand with a declared value of between $400 and $1000 are generally imported through one of two methods, being international mail or fast freight. Customs advise they are reliant on the declaration attached to a parcel in the international mail stream to determine the value and the description of the imported goods. During the inspection of goods through the international mail stream, Customs officers can use a non-intrusive technology such as x-ray or physical intervention to inspect imported goods. While the number of goods inspected is recorded, I am advised that Customs does not record the declared value at the granular level requested of between $400 and $1,000. Therefore, Customs is unable to provide accurate information on the number of parcels inspected with the declared value of between $400 and $1,000 in the international mail pathway. However, I refer the Member to the attached table 1 which provides a breakdown of the total number of imported goods inspected by Customs through the international mail stream for each month from December 2023 to February 2024. Customs and New Zealand Post are currently working on a Data for Mail project that will see a significant increase in the amount of Advanced Electronic Data Customs receives for risk assessment and screening purposes. This project is expected to ‘go live’ in conjunction with the opening of New Zealand Post’s new mail processing centre, in Auckland in late-2024. I also refer the Member to the attached table 2 which provides a breakdown of the number of imported goods with a declared value between $400 and $1,000 inspected by Customs through the fast freight pathway, broken down by month from December 2023 to February 2024. Through this pathway Customs receives Electronic Advanced Data, which includes the value of the goods.