9. KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Customs
What recent reports has he received on the success of SmartGate?
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON (Minister of Customs) Link to this
I bring very good news to the House. SmartGate has just reached—
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON Link to this
—yes, I know that everyone will be so excited; I am sure you will be—a historic milestone with the processing of its 1,000,000th passenger. That is proof that demand for this new technology is clearly on the rise. In November of last year we had reached only the 500,000th passenger after about 18 months. By April we had reached the 1 million passengers mark. New Zealanders and Australian passport holders are loving it. SmartGate is going well. We could not wish for better.
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON Link to this
Automated passenger processing technology provided by systems such as SmartGate is the key to the Government’s response to try to improve passengers’ experience at the border. The Prime Minister set out by asking us to try to make passengers’ experience at the border as near to that for domestic travel as we can. Lots and lots of passengers are coming through Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, where SmartGate is now operating. In Auckland, where SmartGate is operating for departures, as well, people are saying that what they are now experiencing at the border is like their experience with domestic travel. That is fantastic news.