The Aviation Security Service of New Zealand will become a recognised source of aviation security expertise and training within the South Pacific area.

We believe that the best way to deal with the rising threat to aviation, is by specific security measures, delivered by a highly trained, highly motivated, specialised security service.

Since September 11, there has been a dramatic shift in the focus of aviation security. Even in a country as relatively low risk as New Zealand, within hours of the plane crashes, domestic screening was put into place at all our major airports. This was a contingency that had been planned for and all screening points were in place within 24 hours of the tragedy in the US.

Looking into the immediate future, domestic screening is here to stay in New Zealand. Alongside this, the aviation world is moving to put higher security levels in place. Hold stow luggage screening is being implemented at more and more international departure points overseas and New Zealand is not far behind. Hold stow luggage is now screened on flights to the US since September 11.

Avsec has always had the facilities to put hold stow screening into operation, should the threat to aviation be deemed high enough. However, in the future, it is likely that hold stow screening will become a matter of course for all flights.

It is becoming more important, in terms of future security, to change the way we think and actively look for threats. As has been so tragically demonstrated, it is not enough to think that the familiar 'bomb in the bag' is the only threat to look for. Instead, we must explore and assess means of countering emerging threats, including the likes of biological and chemical agents, and the use of missiles.

This also means we must look at supporting the efforts of smaller South Pacific neighbours through provision of training and equipment. In these arenas, we can help provide security for non aviation tasks, such as VIP visits, where our skills will be appropriate for the job.