Rising biosecurity risk to unique NZ

By PHILIPPA STEVENSON agricultural editor

The invading bee-killing Varroa mite may have been brought to New Zealand on a smuggled queen bee.

If someone set out to evade the border controls for the sake of some new bee genetics, they had lots of company.

In the 12 months to March, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry quarantine service seized 8196 items of meat and poultry, 2302 dairy products and 143,710 plants, or an average of 422 items a day.

Little wonder that the country's biosecurity is regarded as under threat and that last week the Government stepped up efforts to intercept insects, animals and other organisms at the border.

It has also launched an awareness campaign to make New Zealanders more aware of what they can do.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Morgan Williams, declared the country "under siege" some time ago and suggested biosecurity be accorded the same priority and focus as national security.

Along with the multimillion-dollar threat to the economy, the environment, human and animal health is the threat to New Zealand's uniqueness.

Eighty five per cent of this country's trees, ferns and flowering plants are found only in New Zealand, as are 25 per cent of birds species, all species of weta, 60 reptiles, four remaining frog species, and two bat species.

And although less than 10 per cent of the world's pests and diseases have gained access to these shores, the opportunities for them to leap across the oceans is growing.

The number of visitors to New Zealand is increasing. Every year 3.5 million arrive by air and 20,000 by sea.

Rising volumes of imported goods mean spiders, mosquitoes or other nasties could hitch a ride in one of 350,000 containers or 52 million items of mail.

And when they get here, our warming climate means that some pests, which were previously unable to survive New Zealand winters, could now do so.

The Protect NZ campaign, promoted by a Max the Beagle animated cartoon, will aim to increase public awareness of the meaning and importance of biosecurity and change attitudes towards greater individual responsibility.

The messages being pushed will be that New Zealand has something worth protecting, that protection is possible, and that everyone has a part to play.

Specific campaigns will target high-risk groups or groups most likely to come in contact with biosecurity risks, such as gardeners, importers, marine users, travellers, and people involved in outdoor pursuits.

An issues paper, launched alongside the Protect NZ campaign, is the first stage of a programme to develop an overarching biosecurity strategy. A Biosecurity Strategy Development Team is seeking public input and will hold a nationwide series of 60 workshops, public meetings and a national hui over the next three months, starting in Hamilton on October 10.

A draft strategy will be released for further public comment in April and will be finalised at the end of next year.

Protect New Zealand

Biosecurity Strategy Development