WELLINGTON: The New Zealand government is to review the Customs and Excise Act 1996.
According to Customs Minister Maurice Williamson, the existing legislation is “restrictive.” He believes that “constant changes in the border environment mean that legislative amendments continually have to be made to authorise Customs’ use of new technology and operating methods at the border.”
The aim of the review is to provide a clear statement of Customs’ roles and purpose. It will also offer an opportunity for the government to “develop a flexible legislative framework that can adapt to changes at the border and technology, and allows minor changes to be made by regulation rather than legislative amendments,” Williamson explained.
