WELLINGTON, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Travelers flying to, from or through New Zealand are now having their documents checked against Interpol's stolen and lost travel documents database, the government's Immigration New Zealand agency said Monday.
The new security check was taking place at the time of check-in and added no time to the current check-in process, Immigration New Zealand assistant general manager Peter Devoy said in a statement.
"Expanding on our existing technology ensures that we are able to provide even greater border controls for New Zealand," said Devoy.
If a travel document had been reported lost or stolen to Interpol, the system would prevent the person from boarding the flight and airlines would contact Immigration New Zealand staff at the border for further advice.
In the year to the end of June, 2,930 people were denied boarding a flight to New Zealand, compared with 2,280 the previous year.
Most of the cases related to passengers not meeting immigration entry requirements.
