Appendix 1: Information about the core agencies

New Zealand Customs Service

The New Zealand Customs Service has broad responsibilities for ensuring the legitimate movement of people, craft, and goods across the border, and for law enforcement to protect New Zealand's border and revenue. Maritime patrols support the New Zealand Customs Service in identifying threats to the border, and actively monitoring and responding to identified threats. Its major interests include illegal drugs and other contraband, and illegal movements of people and exports – including endangered species. Countering these illicit activities is important because they are associated with high economic, social, and cultural costs.

Ministry of Fisheries

The Ministry of Fisheries (the Ministry) administers legislation and delegated legislation for managing fishing in New Zealand. It also administers regulations for managing fishing outside New Zealand's EEZ.

The Ministry manages fishing with a system of quotas, permits, and registration of fishing vessels. It is responsible for maintaining the integrity of fisheries management within New Zealand's EEZ. To fulfil these responsibilities, the Ministry provides compliance services that include education, enforcement, and prosecution. The Ministry has similar responsibilities for international fisheries in the Pacific. It provides compliance services to counter illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and supports Pacific nations in improving their fishing management capacity.

As well as using quotas, permits, and registration to maintain the fisheries management system, the Ministry uses several other monitoring, control, and surveillance tools. In conjunction with these tools, maritime patrols have an important role in protecting New Zealand's fishing interests, encouraging compliance with fishing laws, gathering information, and fulfilling international fisheries management obligations.

Fishing is a major industry for New Zealand. It is a large export earner and a significant source of employment. IUU fishing is a serious global problem because it undermines international, regional, and national efforts to conserve and manage fisheries. It is a considerable risk to New Zealand's fishing interests.

Department of Conservation

The Department of Conservation is the third largest user of maritime patrols. It uses maritime patrols to re-supply its bases at remote islands (for example, Raoul Island and the Sub-Antarctic Islands) and for monitoring activity in marine reserves.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the Government's lead advisor and operational agency on foreign and trade policy, diplomatic and consular issues, and overseas development assistance. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade uses maritime patrols to support foreign policy and resource protection interests in the Southern Ocean. Of particular importance is the toothfish fishery, which contributes about $20 million a year to New Zealand's economy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade also uses maritime patrols to support New Zealand's broader interests in the Western and Central Pacific.

New Zealand Police and Maritime New Zealand

The New Zealand Police and Maritime New Zealand are not large users of maritime patrols. Maritime New Zealand has some patrol needs in relation to commercial fishing craft. The New Zealand Police uses maritime patrols occasionally in its operations and in search and rescue work.