Morpho (Safran) is deepening its relationship with the New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS) with plans to expand its biometric e-gate operations in the country.
The project will begin with the implementation of nine new, next-generation Morpho e-Gates at the Auckland International Airport, with the option for further expansion over the next five years. This development is a continuation of a longstanding partnership between Morpho and the NZCS that started back in 2009 when Morpho’s SmartGate biometric passenger screening system was first implemented in the country.
It has been a successful partnership. In a statement, NZCS Comptroller Carolyn Tremain said that “SmartGate has been very well received in New Zealand, with over 13 million travellers having successfully used the technology.” She added that the expansion of the use of this technology is aimed at helping NZCS to “continue to stay at the forefront of passenger processing efficiency and border security, and enhance the passenger experience.”
Indeed, the New Zealand government has previously indicated that it sees the implementation of biometric passenger screening as an effective means of making the process more efficient, secure, and convenient as the country endeavours to keep up with rising trends in its busy tourism industry. But the new agreement with Morpho isn’t just about expanding the eGate program; NZCS and Morpho also intend to work together in a Biometric Research Partnership, seeking to advance the state of facial recognition technology in general while improving New Zealand’s own border security systems.
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September 10, 2015 – by Alex Perala
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