Peck Mark: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Peck Mark: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:624;Page:19235] 
10.  
MARK PECK (Labour—Invercargill) 
 to the  
Minister of Customs 
: What initiatives has he launched to increase the dual purposes of trade facilitation and security capability at the border? 
Hon RICK BARKER (Minister of Customs) 
: 
 This Government has invested $20 million in equipment including three mobile container inspection units two fixed-site X-ray units five extra mobile trailers and one multi-purpose screening unit which are all now in use at the border. 
Mark Peck 
: Could the Minister tell the House what the effect of these initiatives has been? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: These initiatives have been successful on both fronts. The Customs Service has recently made a significant drugs seizure that would not have been possible without the X-ray equipment. In respect of exports the new equipment has been effective in providing assurance about the contents of export containers thereby ensuring that New Zealand exporters’ goods clear customs at their destination without delay or charge—a good result all round. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: How does the requirement that Customs Service staff demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of Maori culture and the Treaty of Waitangi including its historical legal social and economic significance to the Customs Service workplace fit in with the new initiative and assist with security at the border? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: It is always important to be aware of cultural issues. But that is an operational matter and I suggest the member directs that question to the Comptroller of Customs. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. You might like to ask the Minister to reconsider the answer that he gave. You may remember that a similar question was asked of Mr Mallard in the House a couple of weeks ago and he gave a similar answer—that the matter was operational. We checked it out with the State Services Commission and were told that the relationship between staff and a Minister is a matter for the Minister and that the advertisements that appear in newspapers and other job advertisements that require applicants to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Maori culture and the Treaty of Waitangi including its historical legal social economic and other significance to the Customs Service workplace are fulfilling a requirement put in place by the Minister. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I am somewhat surprised by the member’s comments. I would ask him to authenticate those comments to indicate whom he has spoken to whether he received that in writing and whether normal form was followed. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That may be another matter for another time. Ruling on the point of order I say that the Minister is entitled to respond in that vein. Whether the member who asked the question accepts the answer is entirely another matter. 
Paul Adams 
: Can the Minister assure nervous exporters who are already under stress due to the Government’s programme of border security cost recovery that this time the cost of further securing the facilitation and capability of trade in the name of national interest will not be imposed upon them and that due consideration of their difficult situation will be taken into account when deciding who will fund border security initiatives; if not why not? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I can assure the member that these programmes are in the best interests of exporters as I said in my earlier supplementary answer. These initiatives have ensured that New Zealand exports are crossing foreign borders quickly expeditiously and without delay or charge.