6772 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Customs

6772 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Customs: What protections, if any, exist in the Minister's department, if any, to prevent New Zealanders' information shared with US government departments, if any, being shared with third parties?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that all information, including the personal information of New Zealand citizens, shared by the New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) with United States government departments is shared with a caveat that directs the recipient on how the information must be handled. This is done in accordance with Section 318 of the Customs and Excise Act 2018, which facilitates the disclosure of information by the chief executive of Customs to an overseas authority. It is the responsibility of the recipient agency to ensure that these caveats are followed, in the same way that Customs would uphold caveats on information provided by international partner agencies to Customs.