PLEASE READ AS THIS CONTAINS SOME HELPFUL ADVICE

Thank you for your e-mail requesting information.  New Zealand Customs
Service (Customs) will respond to your request in writing as soon as
possible. Please note that this e-mail address is checked workdays Monday
to Friday 08:00 to 16:00 and there may be delays in replying to you.

For your information, please click on the link for information for
travellers including passenger concessions.
[1]http://www.customs.govt.nz/news/resource...

Should you be planning to go on line shopping please check the  link below
to check on the duty that may be payable on your purchases
[2]http://www.whatsmyduty.org.nz/

Further information is available on our website [3]www.customs.govt.nz.

If you have traced your parcel and seen on line a message "Parcel Delayed,
or "Awaiting Customs Clearance" or similar:

Please note that Customs does not physically store or deliver parcels. Yu
first make enquiries with the carrier example New Zealand Post 0800478 287
or the courier company concerned. If you have an enquiry about a
Customs matter, example the duty charges,  in relation to your item, we
will require a Customs Reference number to locate the entry and duty
details.  Phone 0800428786. This should have been advised to you by the
carrier of your goods into NZ.

Please note if you have tracked your parcel and the message indicates a
Customs delay this does not mean that customs are holding your package but
that your carrier (e.g NZ Post) has yet to arrange clearance and you need
to contact that specific carrier to arrange the clearance.

Other contact points

The following border agencies may also be of assistance:

Ministry for Primary Industries - [4]www.mpi.govt.nz or General Enquires
0800 00 83 83  or phone 0800 222 018.  (Bringing food or plant material
into NZ)
Aviation Security - [5]www.avsec.govt.nz or phone 04 495 2430. (Taking
liquids or other restricted articles on to an aircraft)
Ministry of Health - [6]www.medsafe.govt.nz. or phone 09 580 9141.
(Bringing prescription medicines into NZ)
NZ Passports enquires [7]www.passports.govt.nz
NZ Immigration or NZ Visa Enquires [8]www.immigration.govt.nz  
Client Services Team
 
Thank you
Client Services Team
New Zealand Customs Service
PO Box 29 Auckland 1140
  

The information contained in this email message is intended only for the
addressee and is not necessarily the official view or communication of the
New Zealand Customs Service.

This email may contain information that is confidential or legally
privileged. If you have received it by mistake, please:
(a) reply promptly to that effect, and remove this email and the reply
from your system; and
(b) do not act on this email in any other way.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.customs.govt.nz/news/resource...
2. http://www.whatsmyduty.org.nz/
3. http://www.customs.govt.nz/
4. outbind://97-000000000F63228C3F2B904E8DA0BCC584603F6B07008293D21C16FB404E86A1DEB857E238C200000075EDF800003B0E921D935B8A44A7BEFCE172CEB41B000001717BB50000/www.biosecurity.govt.nz
http://www.mpi.govt.nz/
5. outbind://97-000000000F63228C3F2B904E8DA0BCC584603F6B07008293D21C16FB404E86A1DEB857E238C200000075EDF800003B0E921D935B8A44A7BEFCE172CEB41B000001717BB50000/www.avsec.govt.nz
file:///tmp/blocked::outbind:/97-000000000F63228C3F2B904E8DA0BCC584603F6B07008293D21C16FB404E86A1DEB857E238C200000075EDF800003B0E921D935B8A44A7BEFCE172CEB41B000001717BB50000/www.avsec.govt.nz
6. outbind://97-000000000F63228C3F2B904E8DA0BCC584603F6B07008293D21C16FB404E86A1DEB857E238C200000075EDF800003B0E921D935B8A44A7BEFCE172CEB41B000001717BB50000/www.medsafe.govt.nz
file:///tmp/blocked::outbind:/97-000000000F63228C3F2B904E8DA0BCC584603F6B07008293D21C16FB404E86A1DEB857E238C200000075EDF800003B0E921D935B8A44A7BEFCE172CEB41B000001717BB50000/www.medsafe.govt.nz
7. http://www.passports.govt.nz/
8. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/

Dear Alex

Your email has been received and forwarded to the OIA Officer for a
response.

Regards

Nash | Senior Customs Officer | Border Operations Client Services | New
Zealand Customs Service | PO Box 29 Auckland 1140 |
[email address]| www.customs.govt.nz

-----Original Message-----
From: Alex Harris [mailto:[OIA #1119 email]]

Sent: Tuesday, 10 September 2013 16:23
To: feedback
Subject: Official Information Act request - How many digital devices are
searched at the border?

Dear New Zealand Customs Service,

I would like to request the following information under the OIA:

* How many times in the last 12 months has Customs searched the
laptop computer, portable hard drive, USB stick, cellphone, or
other digital device of someone entering new Zealand?
* On how many occasions does such a search result in finding
something prohibited from entering NZ, or in a prosecution?
* what is the reason for such searches, and what is the statutory
authority for them?
* what paperwork (if any) is filed, and to whom, about such
searches (e.g. do searching customs officers have to fill out a
report, or give a receipt if seized? If there is a standard form, I
would like a blank copy)

I would prefer to receive an electronic response. Queries about
this request will be automatically forwarded to me by the
fyi.org.nz website.

With regards to s12 of the OIA, I am an NZ citizen and in NZ.

Yours faithfully,

Alex Harris

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The information contained in this email message is intended only for the addressee and is not necessarily the official view or communication of the New Zealand Customs Service.

This email may contain information that is confidential or legally privileged. If you have received it by mistake, please:
(a) reply promptly to that effect, and remove this email and the reply from your system; and
(b) do not act on this email in any other way.

hide quoted sections

Dear Alex Harris

 

Thank you for your email dated 10 September 2013, in which you requested
the following information under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA):

1.       How many times in the last 12 months has Customs searched the
laptop computer, portable hard drive, USB stick, cellphone, or other
digital device of someone entering New Zealand?

2.       On how many occasions does such a search result in finding
something prohibited from entering NZ, or in a prosecution?

3.       What is the reason for such searches, and what is the statutory
authority for them?

4.       What paperwork (if any) is filed, and to whom, about such
searches (e.g. do searching customs officers have to fill out a report, or
give a receipt if seized? If there is a standard form, I would like a
blank copy)

 

This email is to confirm that your request has been received by the New
Zealand Customs Service (Customs). Customs will respond to your request as
soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case not later than 20 working
days after the day on which your request was received.

 

Please be advised that as your request is a request for official
information there may be a charge, as set out in section 15 of the OIA.
This will be a charge of $38 per half hour after the first hour of staff
time spent actioning your request.

 

Please feel free to contact us if you have any queries.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Chief Customs Officer- Procedures and Support

 

The information contained in this email message is intended only for the
addressee and is not necessarily the official view or communication of the
New Zealand Customs Service.

This email may contain information that is confidential or legally
privileged. If you have received it by mistake, please:
(a) reply promptly to that effect, and remove this email and the reply
from your system; and
(b) do not act on this email in any other way.

Dear Ms Harris

 

Thank you for your email dated 10 September 2013, in which you made a
request for information under the Official Information Act 1982.

 

In response to your request, please find the documents attached.

 

Please feel free to contact the New Zealand Customs Service again if you
have any further questions.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Chief Customs Officer – Procedures and Support

The information contained in this email message is intended only for the
addressee and is not necessarily the official view or communication of the
New Zealand Customs Service.

This email may contain information that is confidential or legally
privileged. If you have received it by mistake, please:
(a) reply promptly to that effect, and remove this email and the reply
from your system; and
(b) do not act on this email in any other way.