π’ New Zealand Customs Service, Timaru District Office
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[custom2] => Archives New Zealand, undated, Customs (C) Record Group, administrative history.
Archives Reference CH 502
The Guardians at the Gate - The History of the New Zealand Customs Department, David McGill, Owl Press, 1991
Nominal Return of All Officers in the Employ of the Government: Their Duties, Salaries, Location and Dates of Employment (Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated 31st August, 1865, No 40-65), Wellington, 1866
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[history] => The New Zealand Customs Service is one of the oldest government departments in the country, being established in 1840. Originally controlled through New South Wales and London, the service was developed to levy duties on goods moving through New Zealand ports. In 1858, the Customs Act established Customs as a fully fledged department within the developing Colonial government, controlled by a Commissioner who himself was appointed by the Governor. Commissioners in turn delegated their authority to regional Collectors of Customs.
A Customs office was established in Timaru in 1862, although there had been individuals performing the role, along with other central government duties, before this date (See for example B. Woollcombe, who combined at various times the roles of Provincial Sub-Treasurer, Registrar, Resident Magistrate, Immigration Officer, and Beachmaster). As the second major port in Canterbury behind Lyttleton, Customs in Timaru enjoyed a long administrative history. Distillation Acts of 1866 and 1867 broadened the Department's scope especially, as it required Customs to enforce tariffs on the production of liquor and licence production. Further responsibilities were entrusted to Customs with the passing of a series of immigration Acts, such as the Imbecile Passengers Act 1873, Chinese Immigrants Act 1881 and Immigration Restriction Act 1899. Collectors of Customs at all ports were also Inspectors of Distilleries, and acted as returning officers for seamen during general elections.The sub-Collector of Customs in Timaru managed the port, as well as all matters relating to the administration of Customs legislation, ensuring correct duty was paid on goods and regulating the arrival and departure of shipping. Administratively, the sub-Collector reported to the regional Collector of Customs in Christchurch.This came to an end with the restructuring of Customs in 1998, when the New Zealand Customs Service internal structure was re-organised into national business units and the Timaru Office was closed.
Functions:
As the country developed, so too did the role of Customs. Customs Department officers were often called to occupy additional government posts such as Sub-Treasurer, Resident Magistrate, Postmaster, Receiver of Land Revenue. 1866 saw the introduction of taxation on internal production through excise duties and collecting duty on imported goods. The Customs Department administered the Distillation Act 1868, which regulated distillation and the licensing of brewers, and the Beer Duty Act of 1880, which placed an excise duty on the production of beer. Collectors of Customs acted as Inspectors of Distilleries. At some ports Collectors also acted as Registrars of Shipping and Superintendents of Mercantile Marine. In 1913, under the Customs Act 1913 and in conjunction with the Indecent Publications Act 1910, Customs’ mandate extended to protecting New Zealand from the importation of suspect or indecent publications. This lead to Customs taking on censorship role within the framework of the Acts, deciding what importers and individuals could and could not bring into the country.
In general, Customs offices' responsibilities included:
regulation of arrival and departure of shipping vessels;
levy of tariff duties on imported goods;
collection of excise duties on imported liquor and tobacco;
collection of export duty on exported goods, and ensuring the non-entry of prohibited imports;
supervision of the import and export of goods by licensing warehouses for storing dutiable goods without paying duty;
supervision of the delivery, accounting and packing, seizing and disposing of forfeited goods, preventing and detecting of smuggling;
collection of excise duty on spirits including the licensing of plants used in making distilled spirit;
collection of beer duty including the licensing of brewers;
examination of overseas mail (Customs legislation also applied to goods passing through the Post Office).
Show History
The New Zealand Customs Service is one of the oldest government departments in the country, being established in 1840. Originally controlled through New South Wales and London, the service was developed to levy duties on goods moving through New Zealand ports. In 1858, the Customs Act established Customs as a fully fledged department within the developing Colonial government, controlled by a Commissioner who himself was appointed by the Governor. Commissioners in turn delegated their authority to regional Collectors of Customs.
A Customs office was established in Timaru in 1862, although there had been individuals performing the role, along with other central government duties, before this date (See for example B. Woollcombe, who combined at various times the roles of Provincial Sub-Treasurer, Registrar, Resident Magistrate, Immigration Officer, and Beachmaster). As the second major port in Canterbury behind Lyttleton, Customs in Timaru enjoyed a long administrative history. Distillation Acts of 1866 and 1867 broadened the Department's scope especially, as it required Customs to enforce tariffs on the production of liquor and licence production. Further responsibilities were entrusted to Customs with the passing of a series of immigration Acts, such as the Imbecile Passengers Act 1873, Chinese Immigrants Act 1881 and Immigration Restriction Act 1899. Collectors of Customs at all ports were also Inspectors of Distilleries, and acted as returning officers for seamen during general elections.The sub-Collector of Customs in Timaru managed the port, as well as all matters relating to the administration of Customs legislation, ensuring correct duty was paid on goods and regulating the arrival and departure of shipping. Administratively, the sub-Collector reported to the regional Collector of Customs in Christchurch.This came to an end with the restructuring of Customs in 1998, when the New Zealand Customs Service internal structure was re-organised into national business units and the Timaru Office was closed.
Functions:
As the country developed, so too did the role of Customs. Customs Department officers were often called to occupy additional government posts such as Sub-Treasurer, Resident Magistrate, Postmaster, Receiver of Land Revenue. 1866 saw the introduction of taxation on internal production through excise duties and collecting duty on imported goods. The Customs Department administered the Distillation Act 1868, which regulated distillation and the licensing of brewers, and the Beer Duty Act of 1880, which placed an excise duty on the production of beer. Collectors of Customs acted as Inspectors of Distilleries. At some ports Collectors also acted as Registrars of Shipping and Superintendents of Mercantile Marine. In 1913, under the Customs Act 1913 and in conjunction with the Indecent Publications Act 1910, Customs’ mandate extended to protecting New Zealand from the importation of suspect or indecent publications. This lead to Customs taking on censorship role within the framework of the Acts, deciding what importers and individuals could and could not bring into the country.
In general, Customs offices' responsibilities included:
regulation of arrival and departure of shipping vessels;
levy of tariff duties on imported goods;
collection of excise duties on imported liquor and tobacco;
collection of export duty on exported goods, and ensuring the non-entry of prohibited imports;
supervision of the import and export of goods by licensing warehouses for storing dutiable goods without paying duty;
supervision of the delivery, accounting and packing, seizing and disposing of forfeited goods, preventing and detecting of smuggling;
collection of excise duty on spirits including the licensing of plants used in making distilled spirit;
collection of beer duty including the licensing of brewers;
examination of overseas mail (Customs legislation also applied to goods passing through the Post Office).
Archives New Zealand, undated, Customs (C) Record Group, administrative history.
Archives Reference CH 502
The Guardians at the Gate - The History of the New Zealand Customs Department, David McGill, Owl Press, 1991
Nominal Return of All Officers in the Employ of the Government: Their Duties, Salaries, Location and Dates of Employment (Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated 31st August, 1865, No 40-65), Wellington, 1866
- π’ New Zealand Customs Service, Christchurch Regional Office (1862 ‑ 1998)
- π Realm of New Zealand (1947 ‑ 1998)
- π Dominion of New Zealand (1907 ‑ 1947)
- π Self-Governing Colony of New Zealand (1862 ‑ 1907)
This Agency is responsible for:
| ID | Name | Browse | Date | Held At |
| 🌀 CH502 | CH502CH502 - Timaru Customs RecordsⓘRaw data from Axiell backendArray
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Accession 1861 ‑ 1973 Christchurch repository Timaru Customs Records Open |
Browse | 1861 ‑ 1973 | Christchurch |