58120 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Customs

58120 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Customs: How much, if any, did the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, spend on christmas, holiday, end of year, and any other types of celebratory functions or parties during November and December in 2023?

Hon Casey Costello: I refer the member to the attached appendix which shows the New Zealand Customs Service’s (Customs) total spend on all Christmas, holiday, end of year or any other type of celebratory functions during the months of November and December in 2020, 2021,2022, 2023 and 2024. Customs does not have a set budget for Christmas or end of year functions. However, each year some smaller locations hold morning teas or brunches for staff, and since 2023, larger Customs locations are provided with Christmas cookies. The funding for these events is met from within existing operational budgets. This response includes the Border Executive Board Secretariat team who are employed by Customs. The Border Executive Board Secretariat has not spent money on these types of events.