NZ Customs Release

Wishing you all a happy and safe holiday season from us at the New Zealand Customs Service. 

This will be the last edition of Customs Release for the year and we will recommence in January 2025.

Customs has seized an estimated 28.5 kilograms of methamphetamine after it was found in two abandoned duffle bags near the baggage carousels at Auckland International Airport over the weekend.

Customs officers conducting routine checks in the arrivals area noticed two bags that appeared to have been abandoned. X-rays showed some inconsistencies, and a positive indication by a drug detector dog led to the discovery.

On examination, Customs officers located a total of 14 methamphetamine packages in both bags that had been wrapped in four layers of black film, clear plastic wrapping, tea bag branded packaging, and clear plastic wrapping.

This amount of methamphetamine would have had a street value of up to NZ$10.7 million and caused up to NZ$29.9 million of social harm and cost to New Zealanders.

More than 58% of Kiwi air travellers have used the digital New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) in the past month, removing the need to complete a paper declaration on their flight home. Customs and its border partners are urging other travellers to do the same.

In total, more than 2.8 million digital declarations have been completed by air travellers since the new system was introduced in August 2023.

While Australian passport holders travelling to New Zealand have taken up the digital option at a faster rate, many New Zealanders may not have yet had the opportunity to travel or use the digital declaration option since it came into effect. 

The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2024 was introduced to the House of Representatives on 18 December 2024. The primary aim of the Bill is to enable levies to be made as an alternative to fees when Customs recovers its costs related to its goods management functions. 

Read more to see the Bill and track its progress.

The rate of compensatory interest payable under sections 154 and 161 of the Customs and Excise Act 2018 will change with effect on and after 16 January 2025. 
 
The interest rate will change from 10.91% to 10.88%.