Latest fromNZ Customs Service

Customs destroys 700kg of drugs
More than 700kg of drugs were mixed with "putrid waste" yesterday before being cooked and disposed of by Customs.

Defence points finger at Zespri
A China importer says Zespri stood to gain more than it did by understating the value of kiwifruit for customs duty purposes.

Steeper rate kicks in for students
Student loan holders will pay $11 more a week from today as the Government ramps up its repayment scheme.

Woman fined over bird nest packets
A woman has been fined $2750 after trying to bring packets of bird nest into New Zealand.

Euthanasia advocate to make complaint after Customs search
Euthanasia advocate Dr Philip Nitschke says he will make a formal complaint against Customs after being held at Auckland International Airport until 2am yesterday while officials scrutinised his and his wife's luggage.

Burial battle may require court order
A High Court order enforcing the exhumation of a Christchurch man's body might be needed to finally return his body to his partner, after it was taken to Bay of Plenty.

'Extreme relief' at end of burial battle
Denise Clarke is overwhelmed that the fight to have the body of her partner returned is over after it was taken by his family to be buried with his ancestors.

Family loses legal battle over body burial
The family of a man, who was buried in a place against his partner's wishes has lost a five-year legal battle to have his body buried with his ancestors, the Supreme Court has ruled.

Lost yachtsman was 'under the radar'
An English yachtsman was trying to sail across the Tasman "under the radar'' with no documents and on a boat that was not seaworthy when it sank last year, a Coroner has ruled.

Yacht not fit for deadly trip
An English sailor's yacht was a mess and in no state for a planned trip across the Tasman when it sank near Cape Reinga, the Coroner's court has been told.

Booted out...for being Romanian
Customs has been forced to apologise after an officer was heard saying "no more Romanians" within earshot of a Romanian couple who were then kicked out of the country.

Escaping Syria's civil war
Former NZ diplomat Warren Searell called Damascus home until the Arab spring made life far too dangerous. This is his story.