29361 (2025). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs

29361 (2025). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs: How many of the 79 jobs that have gone at Customs, and the 33 people who have accepted voluntary redundancy or early retirement were previously involved in intelligence, transnational organised crime work, maritime border operations, frontline enforcement, financial crime investigations, counter-terrorism or child exploitation?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised by the New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) that 77 positions were disestablished as part of the Customs 2024 Organisational Change Programme. 33 of these positions were disestablished as the person in them applied for and accepted voluntary redundancy or early retirement. Out of the 77 positions disestablished through the Customs 2024 Organisational Change Programme, 20 positions undertook duties in Customs’ intelligence, transnational organised crime work, maritime border operations, frontline enforcement, financial crime investigations, counterterrorism or child exploitation. Out of the 33 people who accepted voluntary redundancy or early retirement, 11 undertook duties in Customs’ intelligence, transnational organised crime work, maritime border operations, frontline enforcement, financial crime investigations, counterterrorism or child exploitation. I am advised that throughout the change process Custom's focus was on efficient delivery without any loss of its ability to deliver frontline services and critical support functions.