Hon Nathan Guy
Minister for Primary Industries
Hon Nicky Wagner
Minister of Customs
21 May 2015
Border clearance levy to be introduced
A new border clearance levy will help the Government to protect New Zealand from imported pests, diseases, illegal drugs
and contraband and bring us in line with border approaches by other countries, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy
and Customs Minister Nicky Wagner say.
The levy is expected to take effect from 1 January 2016, and will be around $16 for arriving passengers and around $6
for departing passengers – although the exact amounts will be subject to public consultation.
The Ministry for Primary Industries and the New Zealand Customs Service together spend around $100 million a year on
border clearance for passengers and crew.
“In the past, these costs have been met by taxpayers. The Government considers it is fairer for the costs to fall on
passengers travelling internationally,” Mr Guy says.
The levy will help ensure that border services can match increased future demand. It is expected to raise around $100
million per year and will fully meet the costs of passenger border clearance by 2017/18.
“Our borders are dealing with increasing volumes,” Mr Guy says. “Arriving air passenger volumes have grown by more than
18 per cent from 4.4 million in 2009 to 5.2 million in 2014, and are expected to continue growing at around 3.5 per cent
each year.
“The levy will help ensure our border processes stay fit for purpose into the future.”
Ms Wagner says the levy brings passenger clearance in line with clearing cargo imports, which is already funded by
levies and fees.
“The move also brings New Zealand in line with many other countries that recover costs from passengers, including
Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and China,” Ms Wagner says.
“It will ensure that as passenger volumes increase, and with them border processing costs, border agencies are able to
respond to new and emerging risks.”
The border clearance levy will be significantly lower than passenger charges levied by many of New Zealand’s major
trading partners.
The levy, when combined with existing charges, will be around $36 for a return journey - lower than Australia’s A$55
(NZ$58) passenger charge and the United Kingdom’s £71 (NZ $142) long-haul passenger charge.
Beginning in early June, the public and industry will get the chance to provide feedback on the design, introduction and
level of the levy.
This announcement is part of a range of measures in Budget 2015 to improve security and services at the border,
involving immigration, customs andbiosecurity.