Latest news with #NewZealandCustoms
1News
02-06-2025
- Business
- 1News
Customs opens eGates to arrivals from 11 more countries
New Zealand Customs Service is allowing a further 11 countries with eligible passport holders to enter New Zealand using eGates. Several European countries now have access — as well as an initial group of countries from the Middle East — with the total list of countries eligible to 48. Arrivals from the United Arab Emirates, with 9381 touching down in New Zealand during the year to March 2025, was one of the countries now permitted to use the eGates. New Zealand Customs said the additional countries would help "make border processing systems more efficient, smart, and easy to use". The other newly selected countries were Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Vatican City, and Macau (a Special Administrative Region of China). ADVERTISEMENT Acting group manager of Border Operations Paul Williams said around 70% of arriving and departing passengers were processed through the eGates. "The use of eGates, along with other digital options such as completing a New Zealand Traveller Declaration digitally, will help reduce screening times in airport terminals, making it easier and faster for travellers to move through border security," said Williams. Williams said eGates enabled Customs frontline officers to focus on high-risk travellers and baggage "as well as boosting airport patrols to target illegal activities such as drug smuggling". In a trial period, Customs worked with Immigration New Zealand to ensure ePassports from the countries met the necessary border security and technological biometric requirements. EGates were first introduced in New Zealand in 2009 and were available to ePassport holders aged 10 years and older.
1News
14-05-2025
- Business
- 1News
Arrest at airport as IR takes tougher stance on student loan debts
The arrest of a person arriving at the border last month over unpaid student loan debt is an example of Inland Revenue "making up for lost time," one tax expert says. Inland Revenue said at the end of April there were 113,733 people with student loans believed to be based overseas. More than 70% were in default on their loans, owing $2.3 billion, of which more than $1b is penalties and interest. For about 24,000 of these overseas-based borrowers, the debt is more than 15 years old. IR has been taking a tougher line, including arrests at the border as a "measure of last resort". "New Zealand Customs informs us of any border crossings into New Zealand by overseas-based borrowers and airlines provide the travel information to us. We apply to the district court and the police make the actual arrest," IR spokesperson Jane Elley said. "Once arrested and taken before the courts, a judge can order the defaulter to make reasonable efforts to arrange repayment to Inland Revenue." Since July 1 last year, 89 people had been told they could be arrested at the border. Eleven had taken action by either making acceptable payments, entering repayment plans or applying for hardship provisions. "One person was arrested at the border last month and they have since paid off their debt. "There are just over 150 overseas-based borrowers, with a combined default of $15m, who we actively look out for in case they return to New Zealand." Elley said Inland Revenue had collected more than $207 million in repayments since July last year from student loan borrowers living overseas — a 43% increase on the same period the previous year Inland Revenue had an increase in student loan compliance funding in last year's budget. "We've contacted more than 12,000 borrowers, 1320 have entered repayment plans, and 960 people have fully repaid their overdue amounts. They have collectively repaid $9 million," Elley said. She said the department was also looking at borrowers who owned property in New Zealand. There were just over 300, she said. "During the first six months of our increased compliance work they paid up $1.7 million. For defaulters within this group who have refused to engage and resolve their default, further legal enforcement action will be taken which may include NZ-based bankruptcy or charging orders over their properties. "There were also 151 [borrowers] with NZ-based investments, and between July and December last year we received payments totalling $84,000 from some of them. Again, there could be legal action ahead including taking deductions from their investments or bank accounts receiving interest income." Robyn Walker, a tax partner at Deloitte, said it was another example of where IR had been dormant for a while and was now making up for lost time. "In the past there has seemingly been very little effort applied to contacting overseas-based student loan defaulters, and for many of them, they probably were blissfully unaware of mounting repayment liabilities, penalties and interest if Inland Revenue had difficulty contacting them. "We've periodically heard the stories of borrowers being arrested at the border, and its actions like that which can really spur people on to get on top of their obligations. "No one wants to not be able to come back to New Zealand for a special event or family emergency because they're concerned that their student loan will catch-up with them."
NZ Herald
13-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Inland Revenue taking tougher line on student loan debtors
IR has been taking a tougher line, including arrests at the border as a 'measure of last resort'. ' New Zealand Customs informs us of any border crossings into New Zealand by overseas-based borrowers and airlines provide the travel information to us. We apply to the district court and the police make the actual arrest,' IR spokeswoman Jane Elley said. 'Once arrested and taken before the courts, a judge can order the defaulter to make reasonable efforts to arrange repayment to Inland Revenue.' Since July 1 last year, 89 people had been told they could be arrested at the border. Eleven had taken action by either making acceptable payments, entering repayment plans or applying for hardship provisions. 'One person was arrested at the border last month and they have since paid off their debt. 'There are just over 150 overseas-based borrowers, with a combined default of $15m, who we actively look out for in case they return to New Zealand.' Elley said IR had collected more than $207m in repayments since July last year from student loan borrowers living overseas – a 43% increase on the same period the previous year. IR had an increase in student loan compliance funding in last year's Budget. 'We've contacted more than 12,000 borrowers, 1320 have entered repayment plans, and 960 people have fully repaid their overdue amounts. They have collectively repaid $9m,' Elley said. She said the department was also looking at borrowers who owned property in New Zealand. There were just over 300, she said. 'During the first six months of our increased compliance work they paid up $1.7m. For defaulters within this group who have refused to engage and resolve their default, further legal enforcement action will be taken, which may include NZ-based bankruptcy or charging orders over their properties. 'There were also 151 [borrowers] with NZ-based investments, and between July and December last year we received payments totalling $84,000 from some of them. Again, there could be legal action ahead, including taking deductions from their investments or bank accounts receiving interest income.' Robyn Walker, a tax partner at Deloitte, said it was another example of where IR had been dormant for a while and was now making up for lost time. 'In the past there has seemingly been very little effort applied to contacting overseas-based student loan defaulters, and for many of them, they probably were blissfully unaware of mounting repayment liabilities, penalties and interest if Inland Revenue had difficulty contacting them. 'We've periodically heard the stories of borrowers being arrested at the border, and it's actions like that which can really spur people on to get on top of their obligations. 'No one wants to not be able to come back to New Zealand for a special event or family emergency because they're concerned that their student loan will catch up with them.' – RNZ
RNZ News
23-04-2025
- RNZ News
Four sentenced for smuggling tobacco, on-selling cigarettes from Gisborne restaurant
In March 2024, Customs carried out search warrants in Gisborne, locating a significant amount of cash in a bedroom and in a vehicle parked outside the restaurant, as well as over a kilogram of loose tobacco and 11,000 cigarettes inside the restaurant. Photo: Supplied / New Zealand Customs Four people involved in an illegal tobacco importing operation, and who were on-selling cigarettes from a Gisborne restaurant, were sentenced last week at the Gisborne District Court. A 34-year-old male and 30-year-old male were sentenced to home detention for eight-and-a-half months and seven months respectively. They faced charges of defrauding Customs revenue, possession or custody of uncustomed goods, importing prohibited goods, and the sale of uncustomed goods. A 61-year-old male and 59-year-old female who played a lesser role in the operation and faced two charges each, were individually fined $10,400 and ordered to pay court costs. Customs initiated investigations in November 2023, where numerous airmail packages were found to contain significant amounts of undeclared cigarettes and loose tobacco, concealed in Chinese tea packets. There were no import permits for the seized tobacco and cigarettes, and no excise equivalent duties were paid. Further investigations identified previous similar consignments which had been successfully imported into New Zealand, and which were being sold in a restaurant to its customers. In March 2024, Customs carried out search warrants in Gisborne, locating a significant amount of cash in a bedroom and in a vehicle parked outside the restaurant, as well as over a kilogram of loose tobacco and 11,000 cigarettes inside the restaurant. In total, the Customs investigation resulted in the seizure of 306,200 cigarettes and more than 110 kilograms of loose tobacco. Charges were laid against four people for various offences under the Customs and Excise Act 2018. Acting Chief Customs Officer (Fraud and Prohibition), Bevan Cameron, said the offenders exploited the supply chain for their own gain. "The offenders arranged to import prohibited goods, deliver them to various addresses in the Gisborne area, and then sell them on. "The scale of duty-evasion and fraud seen here is significant. But in the end, the cost of this type of offending outweighs any potential monetary gains to be made." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
1News
22-04-2025
- 1News
Four sentenced for running illegal tobacco scheme from restaurant
Four people have been sentenced after running an illegal tobacco operation from a Gisborne restaurant. Two men aged 30 and 34 were sentenced last week in the Gisborne District Court to home detention for eight and a half months and seven months, respectively. "A 61-year-old male and 59-year-old female who played a lesser role in the operation and faced two charges each, were individually fined $10,400 and ordered to pay court costs," New Zealand Customs said. Customs began an investigation in November 2023 after discovering numerous airmail packages containing undeclared cigarettes and loose tobacco hidden in Chinese tea packets. The offenders delivered the imported goods to various addresses in Gisborne. "Further investigations identified previous similar consignments which had been successfully imported into New Zealand, and which were being sold in a restaurant to its customers," Customs said. In March 2024, a search by Customs uncovered a significant amount of cash in a bedroom and a vehicle parked outside the restaurant. A further 306,200 cigarettes and more than 110kg of loose tobacco was found inside the restaurant. Chief Customs Officer Bevan Cameron said the four charged "exploited the supply chain for their own gain". "The scale of duty evasion and fraud seen here is significant. But in the end, the cost of this type of offending outweighs any potential monetary gains to be made."
