WELLINGTON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's new state-of-the-art patrol vessel, Hawk V, officially started work on Friday, aiming to boost the customs' ability to identify risk and carry out enforcement.

"The days of tobacco smuggling may be over but the focus on protecting New Zealand remains the same," Customs Minister Meka Whaitiri said in a statement following a commissioning ceremony on the International Customs Day at the Port of Auckland.

Designed by Teknicraft in Auckland and built by Q-West in Whanganui, Hawk V is an 18.6-meter long, foil supported, aluminum catamaran.

Equipped with the latest technology, the new vessel has the ability to monitor comings and goings over a much greater sea area than her predecessors, and at a much faster pace of around 40 knots, which will extend the customs' reach deep into New Zealand's territorial waters, Whaitiri said.

This new vessel is the fifth in the history of the New Zealand Customs Service to bear the name "Hawk," the first Hawk served for six years in Auckland from January 1881 and focused on tobacco smugglers, she said.

Hawk V replaces the customs patrol vessel Hawk IV which has been in service for 19 years, and is similar in size and shape to New Zealand Police's vessel Deodar III. This will allow both agencies to work together, the minister said.

Primarily based in Auckland, Hawk V will be operated by a crew of four customs officers with specialist maritime expertise, she said, adding Hawk V can be deployed to other regions.