The coming summer season will be the first for Hamilton Airport, as regional site of interest to us at KVH and many central North Island growers.

Biosecurity New Zealand has been working closely with the airport company and other border agencies to support efficient passenger processing. Since reopening to international services from Sydney and the Gold Coast, there has been high compliance among travellers.

Between 16 June and 26 October, 19,500 passengers were processed through biosecurity checks. During that time, 29 infringement notices were issued for failing to declare high-risk goods. Cooked meat, bananas, and apples were the most common undeclared items seized.

From December, there will be two biosecurity passenger facilitators (biosecurity hosts) based at Hamilton to assist passengers as they go through biosecurity checks.