Customs processed and risk assessed a record 14.46 million international passengers in the year to June 30, 2019 – an increase of 3.5 per cent compared to the previous 12 months.
Ninety-seven per cent of international passengers (13.97 million) arrived or departed at one of New Zealand’s five international airports.The remaining international passengers arrived or departed through New Zealand’s seaports.
Terry Brown, group manager border operations, says this past year has seen Customs continue to provide a positive and streamlined experience for travellers, almost all of whom complied with our country’s border entry requirements.
"In the past 12 months, Customs processed 96 per cent of commercial air travellers within 45 minutes of their plane arriving," says Terry.
"eGates have continued to play an important role at the border – allowing an increasing number of eligible passengers to quickly and easily complete border checks, while Customs officers focus their attention on higher risk travellers."
Over the past five years, the proportion of arriving passengers using eGates at our airports has increased from 36.7 per cent in the year to June 30, 2015, to 58.1 per cent in the year to June 30, 2019.
"Increasing passenger numbers means that Customs is focused on continuously improving its systems and processes. The past year has seen the removal of the international departure card, the introduction of an updated and easier-to-use international arrival card, the extension of eGate eligibility to citizens of Singapore, and a new process to improve the arrival experience for international passengers permanently disembarking from cruise ships coming from Australia. All these changes help to improve the traveller experience, and we’ll continue this work in the coming year."
"I’m very proud of our staff, across the country, who work every day to protect New Zealand’s borders, while ensuring that legitimate travellers have a high-quality Customs experience, when arriving or departing New Zealand," says Terry.
