KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's border security is under threat from an immigration computer system that is close to collapse, briefing notes to the new Government reveal.
The immigration service, which sits within the Labour Department, has come under attack in recent years for lax border security that has allowed several undesirable immigrants to enter the country.
The Labour Department briefing to incoming ministers, released yesterday, acknowledged the need to improve Immigration New Zealand's handling of security threats, other risks, decision-making and marketing.
But that was made difficult by its computer system, which was designed in the 1990s - before wide use of the internet.
"These challenges come at a time when our immigration ICT systems are at risk of failure and do not appropriately support decision-making or manage risk or security issues."
Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman said yesterday he was already working with officials to address critical issues such as the service's outdated computer systems.
"It's clear their systems are going to need some upgrading and we're going to have to find a feasible and affordable option to provide the level of service the public expect," he said.
The service came under fire two years ago after its systems failed to identify and stop at the border Yemeni national Rayed Mohammed Abdullah Ali, who had links to the 9/11 terror attacks, despite the links coming up with a simple Google search.
A year earlier the Government ordered all immigration approvals relating to applications from 46 "high-risk" countries to be made within New Zealand after several allegations of failures in processing abroad.
The Labour Department, which also oversees ACC, also reveals in its briefing that big cost pressures in the corporation's accounts are likely to continue into the future.
ACC Minister Nick Smith last week revealed a four-year, $1.2 billion blowout in the non-earners account, as well as a three-year, $1.3 billion blowout in the earners account.
The briefing said the Government's liability had risen 16 per cent in the year to last June 30 and cost pressures were likely to continue.
- NZPA
