12411 (2026). Hon Jo Luxton to the Minister of Customs

12411 (2026). Hon Jo Luxton to the Minister of Customs: What processes, if any, exist for when cruise ships arrive in New Zealand ports to deal with potential illegal items being brought into New Zealand?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that Customs has established processes in place to identify and manage the risk of illegal items being brought into New Zealand on cruise vessels. All cruise vessels, crew, and passengers are subject to risk screening prior to the vessel’s arrival, using information and intelligence led assessments similar to those applied in the aviation environment. This enables Customs to assess risk in advance and plan appropriate responses. On arrival, a range of risk mitigation tools and operational tradecraft are applied. Passengers are required to present to Customs officers with their travel documents to complete arrival formalities. Customs officers maintain a visible presence throughout the processing environment, including baggage collection areas, supported by detector dogs where appropriate. Baggage and goods may be referred for further examination, with secondary search areas used where additional assessment is required. These layered processes are designed to deter, detect, and respond to attempts to bring prohibited or restricted items into New Zealand.