Passport plan a boost for security

New Zealand has joined a border security system with Australia and the United States that will help catch travellers using lost or stolen passports.

The computer system allows security and immigration officials to check the passport databases of the US, Australia and New Zealand.

New Zealand Internal Affairs Minister Rick Barker said at a launch for the Regional Movement Alert List (RMAL) in Wellington yesterday that it provided a significant security boost for New Zealanders.

Immigration Minister David Cunliffe said the checking of passengers would contribute to more effective border security.

Screening passports when passengers checked in helped ensure that only people using authorised documents were entering New Zealand, he said.

"We have been able to detect the attempted use of lost or stolen Australian travel documents for some time. When we join the RMAL system on 31 March, we will be able to do this for United States travel documents as well."

The idea for the list came out of Apec counter-terrorism talks.

Australian Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone said the system was critical in preventing terrorists and criminals, who often use lost and stolen passports, from entering the three countries.

- NZPA