13616 (2025). Camilla Belich to the Minister of Customs

13616 (2025). Camilla Belich to the Minister of Customs: What is the total expenditure, if any, on consultants and contractors by any agencies under the Minister’s responsibility since 27 November 2023, broken down by agency, provider, and purpose?

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. The total spent by Customs on consultants and contractors between 1 December 2023 and March 2025 is $27,029,091.04. This total includes spend on consultants and contractors employed to support the Border Executive Board for this time period as the New Zealand Customs Service is the servicing department for the Border Executive Board and the secretariat. Customs is unable to provide a breakdown by provider and purpose for this period without undertaking substantial collation and I consider that the expense of answering your question is not in the public interest. However, Customs regularly provides information on the use of contractors and consultants 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 questionnaires completed by Customs for the 2023/2024 Annual Review and the 2024/25 Estimates hearings can be found through the following links: 2023/2024 Annual Review (Questions 67 to 74) – https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-NZ/54SCFADT_EVI_ccd4dc81-901b-4bcb-6fde-08dcebf31e9f_FADT1015/c70abce72267ec9a5d74818b530eb5273a25840e 2024/2025 Estimates (Questions 71 to 80) – https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-NZ/54SCFADT_EVI_76ce53a6-734b-41ea-6d34-08dc80ee0281_FADT611/0da9a386da1bc256d4a5d715b81c3e133675433c