Rick Barker’s Address: Opening Of The WCO Meeting
Rick Barker’s Address: Opening Of The WCO Regional Contact Points Meeting
Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.
Robin Dare, Comptroller of Customs and your
staff; leaders and members of delegations to the RCP
meeting; ladies and gentlemen.
I am happy to welcome
our visitors to Auckland on behalf of the New Zealand
Government. The issues you are going to be covering this
week are very important ones. I look forward to receiving a
report on the outcome of your discussions.
New Zealand
is proud to have this opportunity of serving the Asia
Pacific region of the World Customs Organisation as Regional
Vice-Chair. It is a responsibility that Robin Dare and his
team take very seriously. We hope to add value to the work
of the group during our two-year tenure.
As Minister
of Customs I carry the responsibility for ensuring New
Zealand's border security. Despite our geographical
isolation, we are an outward-looking country. We live by
trading with the rest of the world and we enjoy welcoming
visitors to our shores.
In addition New Zealanders are
themselves great travellers. As a result, we see the
movement of large numbers of people and large quantities of
goods across our borders. That poses risks but we pride
ourselves on having robust systems in place to manage those
risks. We think we have a good balance between facilitating
trade and maintaining security.
Co-operative relations
among the Customs administrations of neighbouring states can
make a big contribution to reducing risk. That is one of the
reasons why the Asia Pacific grouping of WCO member states
is such a valuable institution. The links that exist between
your Customs agencies provide a web of information that
helps to block illegal activities.
The shocking
terrorist attacks of September last year in the United
States, and on the island of Bali this month, have forced us
to question whether our security arrangements are adequate.
There is more work to be done in this area. The United
States is taking a strong lead with its Container Security
Initiative and other proposals. As Robin has indicated, this
and other security-enhancing measures will be high on your
agenda over the next four days.
For legitimate
travellers and shippers, we try to make our entry processes
as straightforward as possible. Here in Auckland at present
we are hosting the elite of the world's yacht-racing
community. They are competing for the Louis Vuitton trophy
and the right to challenge New Zealand for the Americas Cup.
You will probably be too busy with your agenda to see them
in action on the harbour. But you may catch sight of them at
rest, down at the Viaduct Basin, not far from
here.
Customs has developed some innovative ways of
handling the influx of yachting people, along with their
yachts and other equipment. Visiting yacht owners can
complete their Inward Report and Arrival Advance Information
forms on-line before they arrive. The forms can be accessed
from the Customs Service web-site, and everyone saves a lot
of time.
In addition, a New Zealand Border Agencies
Information Pack has been distributed to many of the
overseas places that are the departure points for yachts
heading towards New Zealand. This information pack sets out
in advance the various requirements of Agricultural
Quarantine, Immigration and the Maritime Safety
Authority.
To make matters even simpler, we have a
Temporary Import System for Americas Cup participants. This
allows the syndicates to import their boats and equipment
without having to pay duties, goods and services tax or a
bond. The understanding is that the goods will be
re-exported when racing is over. It has been well received
by the yachting fraternity.
I mention this example
because defending the Americas Cup is a very major event for
Auckland and for New Zealand. The Customs Service is doing
its part to smooth the way for the participants in a way
that is consistent with its responsibilities to maintain
border protection.
As well as working on your agenda,
I trust you will have some opportunities for relaxation. I
recommend you take the bus tour that is on offer, so that
you will see more of the city than just the interior of the
hotel - attractive though it is. New Zealanders have a
reputation for hospitality and friendliness. I suggest you
put that reputation to the test. Some of you may like to
come and see us again for a longer period on holiday. We
would certainly welcome that.
And now I am happy to
declare this meeting
open.