30034 (2025). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs

30034 (2025). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs: What advice, if any, has the Minister received on the impact of disestablishing 11 out of 15 of the Assurance team and its effects on Customs' ability to counter insider threats within supply chains and ports of entry?

Hon Casey Costello: As Minister of Customs, I have not received any advice from the New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) on the impact of disestablishing 11 out of 15 roles within the Assurance Team. During the Customs 2024 Organisational Change Programme, Customs identified that efficiencies could be 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. The Customs Assurance team undertakes random sampling of goods or passengers crossing the border for compliance purposes, which does not focus on countering insider threats within supply chains and ports of entry.