29343 (2025). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs

29343 (2025). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs: What contingency plans are in place, if any, to mitigate the risks, if any, of reduced human oversight in risk assessment following the digital transition of New Zealand Customs processing systems?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that the New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) has no current plans to reduce human oversight in border processing. The use of digital processing systems at the border by Customs is not new. However, human oversight remains integral to Customs’ approach to protecting the border. When making decisions that could result in an intervention with a person, goods, or craft, Customs uses algorithms to support, rather than replace, human decision making and any outputs are reviewed by staff prior to any action being taken.