4 January 2013

Year at the Border

The work of Immigration New Zealand’s Border Operations team is showcased in the Year at the Border annual report, which features some fascinating facts and figures.

During the 2011/12 year:

• 4.8 million passengers arrived in New Zealand, including 2.6 million short term visitors who contributed around $9.6 billion to New Zealand’s GDP.

• 1,529 people were denied permission to board flights to New Zealand because pre-arrival screening showed they would not be able to meet entry requirements.

• 2,462 people were referred from Customs to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) for immigration assessment on arrival; 790 of them were refused entry.

• The oldest person denied entry to New Zealand was 79.

INZ’s Manager, Border Operations, Karen Urwin, says the report illustrates the skills and experience of staff in facilitating the entry of genuine travellers, while protecting New Zealand’s borders from people who pose a risk.

Not surprisingly, more Australians came here during the whole year (833,000) than anyone else, followed by the UK (336,000), China (231,000), USA (200,000) and France (77,000). Only one person from each of the following countries visited here – Angola, Faeroe Islands, British Indian Ocean Territory, Comoros, Chad and Suriname.

The report also highlights the new airline infringements regime. The new fines regime has now been rolled out to all 19 airlines flying in to New Zealand’s international airports. Improvement in airline compliance with requirements has been positive, reducing from 342 infringements for December 2011 down to 111 in July.

“The majority of airline infringements relate to passenger information requirements not being met or airline staff not checking outward ticket requirements,” Ms Urwin says. “There have been a number of prosecutions of airlines which have been well covered by the media.”

The report shows how closely INZ works with its partners at the border - Customs and the Ministry for Primary Industries – and how greater collaboration has delivered results.

A copy of the report is available here.

ENDS

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