Newshub has learned the Government was warned months ago about security and safety issues at all of New Zealand's international airports.
The warning preceded overseas regulators issuing a critical audit which found they failed to meet international best practice.
Auditors from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) found all of New Zealand's international airports had holes in their security when they visited.
Transport Associate Minister Kieran McAnulty revealed the auditors identified "significant concerns" in their report.
"I am concerned there are two areas where they found that there's significant concern. I am also confident the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have the ability to work with them and come up with a way to address it," McAnulty said.
Newshub revealed last night contractors and airport workers have been able to access tarmacs and planes without being checked for explosives or weapons.
In July, the CAA told the Associate Minister McAnulty it was concerned that meeting international standards was given "insufficient priority" and “New Zealand's level of compliance is beginning to lag behind that of states such as Australia”.
It also said a "downgrade or stagnation…could have a negative impact on NZ's reputation as a safe and secure place to operate".
Pilots say they've been raising issues for up to a year with Transport Minister Michael Wood and more recently with McAnulty.
"We are concerned. We have been talking to the Minister, the Ministry, and the CAA for the last six to 12 months about what's been going on with security at the major airports," Captain Andrew Ridling said.
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Newshub put those concerns to McAnulty, asking whether he waited months knowing our borders were vulnerable.
"Well, no I've only been in the job for a couple of months. But, no I haven't waited months. We've been engaging with CAA on this," McAnulty replied.
But it was only on Monday, after the audit was issued, that airports rushed to upgrade screening.
The Associate Minister says this ICAO audit was better than the last one, although he hasn't actually read it yet.
National says McAnulty should not have waited for the audit to act.
"I think it's significant risks for tourism, freight and operations in New Zealand. This is a very serious issue and the Minister should have taken responsibility when he was first told about it back in July," National's transport spokesperson Simeon Brown said.
An Air New Zealand memo, obtained by Newshub, shows staff were told on Monday some access points would be "locked", aircrew lifts to duty-free would be "closed" and "random checks by aviation security officers will also increase".
The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) currently assesses the New Zealand terror threat as "medium", which means a terrorist attack is assessed as feasible and could well occur.
Security expert Paul Buchanan told Newshub the lack of security protocols at international airports is a concern.
Buchanan said the danger of an infiltrator seeking employment in order to commit malicious acts with biological or chemical agents can't be discounted.
