New Zealand Traveller Pass, necessary or government overreach?

Forums › Travel (planes, train, cruise) › New Zealand Traveller Pass, necessary or government overreach?

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#3019866 11-Jan-2023 09:52

freitasm:

@David321:

I would bet quite comfortably the procedure will be changed during another pandemic so that these online forms will be need to be filled out prior to boarding a plane meaning the govt has an effective way to keep citizens out of the country if they want to.

The huge clue is here - "“We will be working this process through with airport operators and airline partners during the planned pilots,” said the customs spokesperson."

I already asked for conspiracy theories to stop being spouted here.

Fair call, wonder why the airlines need to be involved though if its a customs procedure.

_David_

wellygary

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#3019871 11-Jan-2023 10:08

David321:

Fair call, wonder why the airlines need to be involved though if its a customs procedure.

Why?

Because they are currently.

Who do you think hands out the arrivals cards on the plane and asks that you fill them in ( hint its not someone from NZ customs)

I'm guessing they will be asking airlines to ensure that passengers have filled in the data, and provide options if they haven't

hsvhel

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#3019991 11-Jan-2023 12:18

Can we now do away with 4 copies for a 4 person family

Or do you still need 4 digital versions repeating most of the info

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Oblivian

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#3019994 11-Jan-2023 12:20

Airport companies own/provide the infrastructure and buildings the planes arrive at

Customs and Immigration are tenants of them

Airlines are the face to the customer beforehand, (and I believe still foot the bill for anyone denied entry and immediately exported with the expectation they'll have the claw the costs back). And may also have their own measures of storing your passports and declarations. Air NZ had their own Covid QR verify and record to speed the process at one point.

So I imagine that's why all will be involved

jonherries

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#3020080 11-Jan-2023 14:45

The airlines are directly involved (and there are some very old systems and integrations) where checks are made at checkin with the airline (who of course outsource this in other countries generally) based on the Passport presented and some other stuff and at boarding by the airline (NZ Customs staff have no authority and therefore almost no presence in another country). The US pre clearance process is the only exception and I believe that space is like an embassy.

Further there is some complexity in this process, as particularly with duty/duty free this is sometimes only known once the person gets on the plane and of course lots of people miss flights and get bumped and get stand by.

There is also complexity around last minute changes - ie. once you are on the plane.

This means the process needs to account for updates all the way up to the primary line otherwise we will start fining people who end up in the line, actually read what they need to declare and realise they haven't and cant fix it…

The best bit is this is airlines plural - and they will all need to do it so that staring contest will be interesting to watch to see who blinks first.

Jon

mortonman

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#3020192 11-Jan-2023 17:14

hsvhel:

Can we now do away with 4 copies for a 4 person family

Or do you still need 4 digital versions repeating most of the info

I hope so and hope that you don't need a different email address for each family member so you can fill out the form. Too many website forms forget families share email addresses.

I didn't mind filling out the card on the plane. It didn't take long and I wasn't doing anything else. Now you will need to sort it all out before you fly and hope you have access to the internet just before you fly and finally hope your phone doesn't run out on arrival. I reckon it will take longer for the "new efficient" system.

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jonherries

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#3020210 11-Jan-2023 18:02

mortonman:
hsvhel:

Can we now do away with 4 copies for a 4 person family

Or do you still need 4 digital versions repeating most of the info

I hope so and hope that you don't need a different email address for each family member so you can fill out the form. Too many website forms forget families share email addresses.

I didn't mind filling out the card on the plane. It didn't take long and I wasn't doing anything else. Now you will need to sort it all out before you fly and hope you have access to the internet just before you fly and finally hope your phone doesn't run out on arrival. I reckon it will take longer for the "new efficient" system.

Some other thoughts:

Lots of the planes have usb chargers on entertainment systems
Data might be an issue though - although lots of planes and airports now have wifi
Could you deploy it through the onboard entertainment system?
Could you print out a paper version somehow connected to a kiosk (a QR code then represents your declaration UUID receipt)
Delegates/families is very important coz re-entry is painful - I imagine there is a Ts and Cs ignorance click through problem in this.

There will be lots of difficulty around Customs risk scoring them for green and red lines as people won’t necessarily have done it till getting into the line.

Jon

freitasm

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#3077558 18-May-2023 15:19

Press release:

Legislation supporting safer, smarter and more streamlined border management, including the transition to an online digital traveller declaration, has passed its third reading in Parliament.

The changes in the Customs and Excise (Arrival Information) Amendment Bill make the obligations concerning arrival information clearer, improve the enforcement of arrival information obligations, and support modernising Aotearoa New Zealand’s border with the implementation of a digital arrival card.

“As passenger volumes increase, it’s important that our border processes are as efficient as possible to support a positive traveller experience while also helping to make our border safer and smarter,” Customs Minister Jo Luxton said.

“This legislation, which supports the transition to an online arrival declaration, allows for traveller information to be provided digitally and can be voluntarily provided prior to arrival to streamline the process for travellers coming to New Zealand.

“Customs has an important role at our border. These changes will help frontline Customs officers identify risks more quickly and efficiently, and better enforce the requirements to keep New Zealand and New Zealanders safe,” Jo Luxton said.

The legislation also creates two new offences. The first offence relates to if a person fails to provide required arrival information, while the second offence is where a person provides incorrect or false information which is not merely trivial or inconsequential. For example, if they say they do not have $NZ10,000 or more in cash but they are carrying $NZ10,000 or more in cash.

“Given most people want to comply with Customs’ requirements and complete their arrival information, we anticipate the new offences are only likely to capture a handful of people who don’t, or who provide false information.

“Both offences will be made into infringement offences which can result in a fine. This acts as an additional incentive to encourage travellers to follow the rules,” Jo Luxton said.

The legislation comes into force on 21 June 2023. For certain classes of maritime vessels the new arrival obligation will come into force on or after 31 October 2023.

The changes also include providing Customs with the ability to verify information relating to travellers’ compliance with requirements administered by other agencies, for example if there were health requirements at the border in place.

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wellygary

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#3077561 18-May-2023 15:45

freitasm:

Press release:

“This legislation, which supports the transition to an online arrival declaration, allows for traveller information to be provided digitally and can be voluntarily provided prior to arrival to streamline the process for travellers coming to New Zealand.

Sounds like they have abandoned adopting the COVID rules of No declaration/No plane boarding ..... which is probably a goof thing...

jonherries

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#3077646 18-May-2023 19:59

wellygary:

Sounds like they have abandoned adopting the COVID rules of No declaration/No plane boarding ..... which is probably a goof thing...

It was never really enforceable - we ran at ~70%. But per my posts above the sequence of events are now being locked in so you won’t get out of the airport if you haven’t provided that info, there will be much longer lines at the primary line and in arrivals I would guess. The surprising thing for most is probably how poorly arrival cards had been completed previously.

The value of pre-screening is in the problem of what to do with a plane full of sick people once they arrive, anything that could mitigate that risk is well worth trying.

Jon

floydbloke

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#3085404 6-Jun-2023 12:38

Did anyone here take part in the recent electronic NZ Traveller Declaration trial?

What did you think?

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afe66

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#3085458 6-Jun-2023 13:22

Relative works internal affairs and it wasn't a rare occurrence when on holiday with him, for him to receive a phone call about someone on a watch list to advise the person was on route to nz and he would arrange their intercept on arrival in Auckland.

This was from confirmed passenger lists sent once flight had left. So I think the airlines are already involved

floydbloke

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#3118982 22-Aug-2023 12:38

No more scrabbling for a pen while squashed into a cattle-class seat.

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openmedia

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#3119067 22-Aug-2023 18:49

floydbloke:

No more scrabbling for a pen while squashed into a cattle-class seat.

Just dealing with the airplane wifi while you try to fill in the form on your phone?

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

johno1234

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#3119069 22-Aug-2023 19:08

openmedia:
floydbloke:

No more scrabbling for a pen while squashed into a cattle-class seat.

Just dealing with the airplane wifi while you try to fill in the form on your phone?

Can be done 24h before arrival... While waiting to board

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