WELLINGTON
The Customhouse, 1 Hinemoa Street, Wellington
PO Box 2218, Wellington 6140
Phone: 04 901 4500 Fax: 04 901 4555 All general enquiries phone: 0800 428 786
Email: [email address] Website: www.customs.govt.nz
23 September 2022
Ref: OIA 22-136
M B
By email:
[FYI request #20082 email]
Tēnā koe M B
Request for information under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email dated 30 July 2022 to the New Zealand Customs Service
(Customs) via the FYI website, requesting the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
“1. How many ANPR cameras does Customs use, monitor, or otherwise have access
to? (Including third party access).
2. What Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) databases does Customs
have access to?
3. Does Customs have any contracts or integration with Securogroup, SaferCities,
Auror, or vGRID?
4. What software, database, or other method of access is used to remotely view
video feeds from third parties such as Howick Village Association. See
https://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2022/05/HW_20220516_AGN_1030
AT.htm”
Please find below responses to each of your questions.
Question one – How many ANPR cameras does Customs use, monitor, or otherwise
have access to? (Including third party access)
Question two – What Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) databases does
Customs have access to?
Question three – Does Customs have any contracts or integration with Securogroup,
SaferCities, Auror, or vGRID?
In response to questions one, two and three, Customs is withholding the information sought
under section 6(c) of the Act, as making available the information would be likely to prejudice
the maintenance of the law, including the prevention, investigation, and detection of
offences, and the right to a fair trial.
I can advise that reviewing surveillance camera footage is part of range of tools utilised by
Customs to assess risk at the border. Accordingly, disclosing specific details about the
number and type of devices and platforms utilised by Customs would likely impede our
ability to operate those capabilities effectively.
Question four – What software, database, or other method of access is used to
remotely view video feeds from third parties such as Howick Village Association. See
https://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2022/05/HW_20220516_AGN_10306_
AT.htm
In response to question four, I can advise that Customs does not use software, databases,
or other methods of access to remotely view Automatic Number Plate Recognition video
feeds from third parties such as the Howick Village Association. As such, Customs is
refusing this part of the request under section 18(e) of the Act, as the information sought
does not exist.
You have the right, by way of complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman under section 28(3)
of the Act, to seek an investigation and review of the decision conveyed in this letter.
In the first instance, if you have any queries in relation to this response, please contact the
Correspondence, Reviews and Ministerial Servicing team at:
[email address]. Please note that Customs proactively releases responses to Official Information Act requests
on our website. As such, we may publish this response on our website after we have sent it
to you. Your name and contact details will be removed.
Nāku noa, nā
Simon Jones
Manager Operations Support
P2 OF 2