13120 (2025). Camilla Belich to the Minister of Customs

13120 (2025). Camilla Belich to the Minister of Customs: What is the total expenditure, if any, on domestic and international travel by any agencies under the Minister’s responsibility since 27 November 2023, broken down by agency, purpose, and destination?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that the New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) records and analyses historical expenditure information on a monthly basis, therefore my response provides expenditure from 1 December 2023, not 27 November 2023. Between 1 December 2023 and March 2025, Customs spent a total of $2,824,356 on domestic travel, and $1,495,055 on international travel. I am advised that Customs is unable to provide a breakdown of each trip by purpose and destination without undertaking substantial collation and I consider that the expense of answering your question cannot be justified. However, Customs regularly provides information on international travel broken down by destinations to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee, as part of the Annual Review and Estimates process, which the Member may wish to refer to. The most recent questionnaire completed by Customs for the 2023/24 Annual Review can be found through the following link: 2023/24 Annual Review (Questions 95 and 97) https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-NZ/54SCFADT_EVI_ccd4dc81-901b-4bcb-6fde-08dcebf31e9f_FADT1015/c70abce72267ec9a5d74818b530eb5273a25840e This response includes the staff of the Border Executive Board secretariat, as these staff are employees of Customs. Customs is the provider of travel booking support to the Border Executive Board secretariat team as the servicing department.