Thank you for contacting the New Zealand Customs Service. This is an
automatic reply to let you know that we have received your correspondence.

If your correspondence relates to an Official Information Act request, we
will consider and respond to your request in accordance with the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act). Under section 15(1) of the Act, we are
required to make and inform you of our decision on your request as soon as
reasonably practicable and in any case not later than 20 working days
after the day on which your request is received.  If you would like to
calculate the timeframe, you can use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

 

If we need to clarify, or transfer your request, or extend the timeframe
for response, we will contact you shortly. If more than 20 working days
are needed due to the potential workload and/or consultations involved in
answering your request, we will notify you accordingly.

 

Please note, we publish some of our Official Information Act responses on
our web site. We will not publish your name or contact details.

 

 

 

The information contained in this email is intended for the addressees 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 received this in error, please:

 a. Reply promptly to that effect, remove this email and any replies from
your system.
 b. Do not act on this email in any other way.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

[Customs reference: OIA 25-231]

 

Kia ora R Bohan

 

Extension of request for official information

 

Thank you for your email received on 1 April 2025 to the New Zealand
Customs Service (Customs), requesting the following information under the
Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):

 

“1) All current internal documents detailing how certain people are
selected for further questioning/searches for international arrivals.

  a) If said documents are refused, please provide a summary of factors
considered for selection. Additionally, I request that the following
factors are addressed directly if a summary can also not be provided or
are not included in said summary:

   - Age of traveler

   - Sex/Gender

   - Race/ethnic background

   - National origins (e.g. second passports)

2) The number of total passengers as well as the number passengers
selected for said secondary questioning/searches, per year, per point of
entry, since 2018.

3) In OIA 24-575, one reason to be rejected at an eGate was: "Customs
directive – the traveller is required to be processed by an officer".
Could more info be given on this - specifically what potential situations
could result in a requirement to be processed by an officer?”

Customs is unable to process your request within the original time frame
because the consultations necessary to make a decision on your request are
such that a proper response to the request cannot reasonably be made
within the original time limit.

 

Customs is therefore extending the time frame for a response by an
additional 20 working days (counted from 2 May 2025 which was the
statutory date it was initially due) pursuant to section 15A(1)(b) of the
Act. The Ombudsman's online calculator is available here:
[1]https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/.   

 

The new due date for your request is 30 May 2025. Customs will provide a
response to you as soon as reasonably practicable and as soon as it
becomes available.

 

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
decisions conveyed in this email. 

 

Ngâ mihi, Jasmin

 

Correspondence, Reviews and Ministerial Servicing Team

New Zealand Customs Service | Te Mana Ârai o Aotearoa

[2]www.customs.govt.nz

 

 

 

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