Media Release
From: Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives
For release: 13 July 2018
There’s still time to have your say on the Maritime Powers Extension Bill

The Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee is seeking submissions on the Maritime Powers Extension Bill. Submissions are open until Friday, 20 July 2018.

The objective of the Maritime Powers Extension Bill is to provide the New Zealand Customs Service with additional power to disrupt drugs smuggling, and to establish clear jurisdiction over offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.
Key provisions within the bill include:

• expanding the powers of Customs to stop, board and search suspected drug smuggling ships in international waters
• establishing offenses for individuals involved in drug smuggling outside New Zealand waters, when they intend to smuggle illicit drugs or prohibited material in or out of New Zealand

This bill is consistent with the existing Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 and will incorporate New Zealand’s obligations to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (the Drug Trafficking Convention) into domestic law.

Tell the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee what you think

Send your submission on the bill by midnight on Friday, 20 July 2018.
For more details about the bill:

• Read the full content of the bill
• Read the bill’s page on the Parliament website
ENDS

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