OIA 23 107 Response.pdf

WELLINGTON
The Customhouse, 1 Hinemoa Street, Wellington
PO Box 2218, Wellington 6140
Phone: 04 901 4500  Fax: 04 901 4555  All general enquiries phone: 0800 428 786
Email: [email address]  Website: www.customs.govt.nz

24 April 2023


Ref: OIA 23-107

Mason Helm
By email: [FYI request #22221 email]

Tēnā koe Mason
Request for information under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank  you  for  your  email  dated  23  March  2023  to  the  New  Zealand  Customs  Service
(Customs)  via  the  FYI  website,  requesting  the  following  information  under  the  Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
“On  20/03/2023  you  advised  that  Auror  is  in  use  by  Customs.
(https://fyi.org.nz/request/20082/response/83045/attach/3/OIA%2022%20136%20Re
vised%20Response.pdf)
Please  provide  all  advertising  material,  propositions,  documentation,  guidance
material,  and manuals related  to  your  use  of Auror  and  relations  with the  company.
This will include documentation provided to Customs by Auror in March 2021.
When did Customs begin using Auror?”
Question  one  –  Please  provide  all  advertising  material,  propositions,  documentation,
guidance material, and manuals related to your use of Auror and relations with the company.
This will include documentation provided to Customs by Auror in March 2021
In response, I can advise that Customs holds the following four documents in scope of this
part of your request:
•  Customs’ internal policy for the use of the Auror platform
•  Auror Limited Presentation document dated March 2021
•  Auror Limited Report dated September 2021
•  Auror Limited independent privacy review dated April 2022.
In relation to the document titled ‘Customs’ internal policy for the use of the Auror platform’, I
can  advise  that  Customs  is  withholding  this  document  in  full  under  section  6(c)  of  the  Act,
where making available the information would be likely to prejudice the maintenance of the
law, including the prevention, investigation, and detection of offences, and the right to a fair
trial.  Customs  has  reasonable  grounds  to  believe  that  the  release  of  this  internal  policy
document  pertaining  to  Customs’  use  of  the  Auror  platform  would  be  likely  to  adversely
affect  the  national  interest,  including  hindering  Customs’  operational  effectiveness  while
trialling the Auror platform.

In relation  to  the  remaining  three  documents  in  scope  of  the  request (Presentation,  Report
and Privacy review), which are owned by Auror Limited, I can advise that these documents
were  provided  to  Customs  by  Auror  Limited  in  confidence,  as  part  of  the  commercial
partnership between Customs and Auror Limited. Accordingly, Customs has consulted with
Auror  Limited  regarding  the  release  of  their  three  documents  in  scope  of  the  request.  As
advised by Auror Limited, Customs is:
•  withholding the Presentation document in full under section 9(2)(b)(ii) of the Act, as
releasing  this  information  would  be  likely  to  unreasonably  prejudice  the  commercial
position of the supplier of the information, including providing a benchmark that Auror
Limited’s  competitors  could  use  to  ascertain  Auror  Limited’s  market  share  and
penetration. In addition, Auror Limited advises that the release of the document could
potentially threaten the security of Auror Limited’s retail partners
•  withholding  the  Report  document  in  full  under  section  6(c)  of  the  Act,  as  the
document  contains  sensitive  information  about  Auror  Limited  and  its  platform.  Its
release  would  threaten  a  number  of  securities  to  the  platform  and  also  personal
security of Auror employees
•  withholding the independent privacy review document in full under section 9(2)(h) of
the Act, where withholding is necessary to maintain legal professional privilege.
Customs  considers  the  public  interest  arguments  in  favour  of  making  this  information
available do not outweigh the necessity to withhold this information.
Question two – When did Customs begin using Auror?
I can advise that Customs has been undergoing a trial with Auror Limited since May 2022.
You have the right, by way of complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman under section 28(3)
of the Act, to seek an investigation and review of the decision conveyed in this letter.
In the first instance, if you have any queries in relation to this response, please contact the
Correspondence, Reviews and Ministerial Servicing team at: [email address].
Please note that Customs proactively releases responses to Official Information Act requests
on our website. As such, we may publish this response on our website after we have sent it
to you. Your name and contact details will be removed.
Nāku noa, nā

Debbie Kay
Correspondence, Reviews and Ministerial Servicing Manager
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