Move to stop terror raids on New Zealand's travellers

The Ministry of Transport has set up a security team to prevent a terrorist attack on New Zealand's land, air and sea travel routes.

Although officials considered it unlikely an Auckland commuter bus or the Cook Strait ferry could come under attack, ministerial briefing papers reveal the work is considered vital to ensure tourists and trading partners have confidence in New Zealand's security.

The ministry's transport security team is liaising with international organisations. Transport Security manager Megan Beecroft said the threat was considered low, but bomb attacks in London and India demonstrated that terrorists considered land transport an attractive target.

The ministry had also set up a transport emergency management co-ordination group.

Cook Strait ferry services were exempted from the Maritime Safety Act 2004, which ordered ports and ships to comply with international security regulations. The ferries are considered to be part of the land transport network, and hence would be part of the current security review, the ministerial briefing paper said.

Toll Group, which operates the Interislander ferry service, said it intended to meet security requirements by midway through next year.

Security had also been increased on its rail networks.

The safety of New Zealand's skies comes under scrutiny in September, when the International Civil Aviation Organisation will carry out a security audit of airports and airlines. The Government hopes to introduce the Aviation Security Legislation Bill this year.