October raids on two well-known Auckland horticulturists are part of a story that began in Wanganui in February.
On October 11 at 7am Graeme Platt, Jack Hobbs and the Auckland Botanic Gardens all had sudden and unexpected visits from carloads of biosecurity officials. They were looking for plant material imported into New Zealand without approval.
The officials had search warrants, and seized computer records and plant material, the New Zealand Herald reported.
The plant they were looking for was Agathis silbae, a relative of the New Zealand kauri and Norfolk Island pine that grows naturally on the mountains of Vanuatu.
Since 1997 it has been illegal to import new plants into New Zealand without approval from the Ministry for Primary Industries.