Customs says a lack of resources means it cannot patrol almost half the highest risk maritime areas for illegal behaviour such as people smuggling and unlawful fishing.
Labour MP Phil Goff. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
In its annual report, the agency says it allocated surveillance resources to 57 percent of those areas, well below the 80 percent target.
Labour's defence spokesman Phil Goff said Customs' deputy comptroller Bill Perry told a select committee yesterday that it did not have the assets available to carry out the surveillance.
Mr Goff said that was a result of ongoing crewing shortages on the Navy's four inshore patrol vessels, which carry out the border patrols.
"That's a problem they've known about for a long time, they still have not addressed that problem, and in the Customs financial review we have exposed the consequences of them not being able to do that."
Mr Goff said the select committee had sent follow-up questions to Customs to get more information.