Customs will likely get powers requiring a person to provide a password or access to their electronic devices - but a threshold such as suspicion of criminal activity will have to be met.
Customs Minister Nicky Wagner today announced that the Government has agreed to a series of proposals that will modernise the Customs and Excise Act, and a Bill will be drafted for introduction later this year.
When proposed changes were released by Customs in a discussion document last year, a particularly controversial area was about access to electronic devices.
Currently, when Customs examines a person's electronic device the owner is not legally obliged to provide a password or encryption key.
The agency says if people refuse, it can leave no way to uncover evidence of criminal offending even when officers know the device holds that evidence.