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Source: ONE News
Auckland Airport's SmartGate automatic processing facility has clocked up its 100,000th passenger, Customs Minister Maurice Williamson says.
SmartGate was launched three months ago. It uses face recognition biometric technology and information stored in the microchip inside electronic passports to perform identity checks on arriving passengers which are usually carried out by a customs officer.
Williamson says it has outperformed everyone's expectations.
"New Zealanders have rapidly taken to this new technology and as many as 50 percent of eligible passport holders are now using SmartGate," he says.
"This uptake compares very favourably with Australia, which has taken three years to achieve a similar level of uptake to what New Zealand achieved in just three months."
The system already operates at most international airports in Australia for arriving New Zealand and Australian passport holders.
It will be available for passengers flying into about June and into Christchurch about November.
Work is under way to introduce it in the departure process at Auckland airport at the end of this year.
