29374 (2025). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs

29374 (2025). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs: What are the main reasons for getting rid of 11 of 15 Assurance Team roles, including disestablishing the entire Christchurch assurance team, despite their direct role in revenue and compliance enforcement?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised by the New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) that these 11 positions were disestablished as part of Customs’ 2024 Organisational Change Programme to meet required cost savings and future cost pressures. Customs identified that resourcing could be reduced, and efficiencies gained by reducing the size of the Assurance Team while still meeting performance objectives and maintaining statistical integrity. Customs is on track to meet its assurance output measures for the 2024/25 financial year.