North focus for protecting NZ border

Minister Meka Whaitiri said wha¯nau across the country were being ripped apart by methamphetamine and other drugs.

While the Government took a health-based approach to drug problems, Customs also had a critical role in “controlling the supply of this poison that criminals continue to send to our shores in order to feed their own greed for profits”.

As well as extra staff, O¯ pua’s Customs unit had been equipped with a new patrol vessel, A¯ raia, with a cruising speed of 30 knots but small enough to be transported around Northland by road and access secluded inlets.

Customs has four maritime officers based at O¯ pua, the entry point of three-quarters of all small craft arriving in New Zealand. The agency conducts regular air patrols of the Northland coast, and the Aucklandbased 33m catamaran Hawk spends much of its time in Northland waters.

Customs also works with other government agencies such as the Defence Force. On March 19 an Air Force Orion intercepted a suspicious yacht 150 nautical miles off North Cape, though in that case the vessel’s journey turned out to be legitimate.

Customs also operates a 21-strong team at O¯ pua called Maritime Border Order, tasked with managing Covid19 quarantine of boats at the border.

■ You can report suspicious activity by calling 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) or going to customs. govt.nz/report. The website also gives details of what to look out for.