New technology rolled out at New Zealand Post’s huge national packaging centre in South Auckland is being praised as a “game changer” for stamping out biosecurity threats and detecting drugs at the border.
The Auckland Processing Centre (APC) in Wiri is the country’s international and domestic gateway for all parcels and mail entering and leaving New Zealand, using modern technology to make the process more efficient.
Around $250 million has been invested in the Wiri centre and two others around the country. Wiri had been sorting domestic parcels since April 2024.
Lesley McLinden from Customs said new 3D screening technology was stepping up how officers identify and process biosecurity risks. (Source: 1News)
The international section of the facility was opened today – which housed NZ Post, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) together at the same location.
NZ Post chief executive David Walsh told 1News that bringing together NZ Post, MPI and Customs made the process “a more seamless service” for consumers.
“They’re a very important partner to New Zealand Post and the New Zealand border security, but the fact that they’re on the site, working closely together means we can very quickly work through to get product cleared and get it into the domestic network as well.”
Standing at 30,000sq metres, Walsh said the “very big, important site” can process up to 30,000 parcels per hour at capacity, and that all of the mail in the North Island would be sorted through the centre.
“This is a really important investment for NZ Post. We’re seeing New Zealanders shop more online, and as e-commerce grows we need to have the equipment and machinery to keep pace with that.”
New tech a ‘game-changer’ for Customs
During 1News’ visit to the facility, about 1kg of methamphetamine that had been concealed in a packet of seaweed was being tested by an officer in the inspection room, and in another room was ketamine that had been contained in a coat hanger.
Customs technical specialist Braden Harris said a new three-dimensional (3D) scanning system that was used at the facility was “fantastic”.
“So previously, it was an extremely manual operation. An officer would have to be looking at the mail at the right time for the right things, but with the 3D technology as well as our data we’re actually able to use, it’s been a game-changer for Customs, that’s for sure.”
Harris said the methamphetamine would have a street value of about $250,000.
Industry adapts to e-commerce ‘explosion’
MPI Biosecurity New Zealand commissioner north Mike Inglis said New Zealand was already “world class” at mitigating biosecurity risks, but said the new technology would allow the process to be even better.
“With the innovative use of new data and intelligence tools, we will focus on items that pose the greatest biosecurity threat, therefore reducing the likelihood of incursions and ensuring we protect our primary industries,” he said.
Huge Auckland Processing Centre houses MPI and Customs, making the biosecurity and drug detection process more efficient for all parcels and mail in and out of New Zealand. (Source: 1News)
“For instance, we don’t want foot and mouth disease coming into New Zealand so any fresh meat products coming in, [the facility] allows my staff to have much better technology, much better visual images and we can also make sure we have secondary checks without having to check every item because of the new tech.”
He said the “explosion of e-commerce” has forced industries to change the speed in which packages were processed too.
“We have to change. We have to make sure that we’re innovative and looking forward to the future and with our industry partners, particularly when you’re protecting a $54 billion dollar primary industry.”
Customs border operations manager operations processes and systems Lesley McLinden agreed, saying the agencies had always worked closely with one another, but the facility would bring them closer together using the new technology.
“[The] new electronic data system that we worked really closely with New Zealand Post to develop allows us to get the data and the information about mail items that are coming in ahead of them arriving,” she said.
Economic return on investment expected
Other guests including Minister for State Owned Enterprises Simeon Brown, Minister for Customs Casey Costello and Minister for Biosecurity Andrew Hoggard were at the site today to help officially open the facility.
Brown said having all three teams on the site using the modern technology would help to decrease how many illegal items were arriving on New Zealand’s shores.
He also reiterated that NZ Post was expected to “maximise the investment that’s been made here”.
“As post continues to decline and parcel [and packages] grows, they need to remain competitive and part of that is having modern infrastructure.”
He said NZ Post was currently undergoing “a turnaround plan to return to profit”, and that “taxpayers are going to expect a return on their investment”.
“It’s ultimately the customers who are critically important to the success of this investment.
“We’re expecting an economic return in terms of this investment… All our state enterprises need to be focused on making sure they are providing that economic return to the taxpayer which invest in them.”
