12. Question No. 12—CustomsGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour—Hutt South) to the Minister of CustomsQuestion No. 12—Customs12. GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour—Hutt South) to the Minister of Customs: What is the New Zealand Customs Service doing to prevent illicit drugs reaching our shores?Hon MEKA WHAITIRI (Minister of Customs): In Budget 2018 the Government provided an extra $58.1 million to Customs over four years. Thanks to this additional funding—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Order! It appears members are overstimulated over there.Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: Thanks to this extra funding this additional funding Customs now has around 100 additional staff and capabilities to protect Aotearoa across borders. The success of this additional resourcing is evident in the increasing volumes of drugs that are intercepted offshore by Customs' partners. I am proud to inform the House that from 2018 to 2021 Customs' offshore seizures averted over $1.5 billion worth of social harm from arriving into New Zealand. These were drug shipments destined for New Zealand that were stopped at overseas ports. Had those drugs reached our streets it is hard to imagine the damage that they would have wreaked. For the first five months of 2021 social harm averted from offshore seizures stands at close to $423 million. It is clear that the border disruptions from COVID-19 have not stopped criminals from wanting to push drugs to and through New Zealand. This goes to show that the work of Customs remains as important as ever to protect our community and the integrity of the New Zealand supply chains.Ginny Andersen: What does Customs actually do when illicit drugs arrive in New Zealand?Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: Tackling criminal networks at the point of export is very important but that doesn't replace the need to still pursue drugs that do arrive—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member will resume her seat. Look some of us actually have an interest in the answer to this question. Some members might know it all but some of us know that we might learn something and I'd like to at least help members get a chance.Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: Tackling criminal networks at the point of export is very important but that doesn't replace the need to still pursue drugs that do arrive into New Zealand. I am proud to inform you that in addition to the $423 million in harm prevented from reaching our shores Customs' own seizures at the New Zealand border have prevented another $527 million in harm from reaching our streets. Customs continues to work hard to target identify and prosecute those criminals responsible for bringing drugs into New Zealand—for example one foreign national and a New Zealander were recently sentenced for their part in Customs' largest-ever meth bust. This involved 469 kilograms of methamphetamine that was seized by Customs in 2019 concealed within a shipment of electronic motors from Thailand.Ginny Andersen: What recent initiatives has Customs implemented to contribute to this work?Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: Earlier this month I commissioned in Auckland Customs' latest maritime vessel Rapua II. Rapua II will be Auckland-based and its main function will be in-close inshore work primarily patrolling the Hauraki Gulf but with the ability to deploy to other areas as needed. Rapua II will be invaluable in fighting against drug trafficking detecting border security breaches and supporting the prevention of criminal activity in the Auckland region. I'm also proud to say that earlier this year Customs launched its Border Protect outreach campaign which encourages members of the public and industry to report activities that may be suspicious. Our border is not just at airports; it includes seaports coastlines and international freight arrival points. The integrity of our supply chain is critical. Cross-border crime can occur in any of these places and the signs can be visible within communities or the workplace. The Border Protect number is 0800 WE PROTECT.Chlöe Swarbrick: Is the Minister aware that Customs is also responsible for holding up legal medicinal cannabis from getting to sick New Zealanders like seven-year-old Eddy son of Katy Thomas?Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: I don't have that answer with me but I'm happy to provide that to that member if she puts it to my office in writing.Chlöe Swarbrick: Mr Speaker permission to table evidence to that effect—seeking leave.SPEAKER: No no the member needs to tell us specifically what she wants to table.Chlöe Swarbrick: Tabling a letter to that Minister's office with regard to expediting the release from Customs and Medsafe for the medicinal cannabis for Eddy son of Katy Thomas.SPEAKER: The member wants to table a letter from?Chlöe Swarbrick: From Chlöe Swarbrick MP.SPEAKER: The member will resume her seat. The member knows she can't table material that she has herself produced.Chlöe Swarbrick: To the Minister however Mr Speaker pertaining to the point that the Minister noted in evidence and awareness—SPEAKER: I understand that. If the member wants to give it to the Minister she can but I'm not going to put it to the House. We've had repeated rulings from my predecessors about self-produced material not being a subject of tabling.