Thursday, 19 December 2024 11:55

Biosecurity NZ ready for a busy summer

Written by  Staff Reporters
Detector dog handlers on duty this summer will increase nationwide from 30 to 39. Detector dog handlers on duty this summer will increase nationwide from 30 to 39.

Biosecurity New Zealand says that more officers, detector dogs, and airport hosts, accompanied by an enhanced public awareness campaign, will bolster New Zealand’s biosecurity protections this summer.

Biosecurity New Zealand commissioner Mike Inglis says the frontline has been strengthened to ensure that threats like foot-and-mouth disease and brown marmorated stink bug do not cross the border and harm the country’s $54 billion primary sector.

72 new frontline officers have been recruited this year, including 24 recent graduated who will be based at Auckland Airport over the summer.

Detector dog handlers on duty this summer will increase nationwide from 30 to 39.

“The additional detector dog team capacity means we can make greater use of airport express lanes to speed up passenger flows,” Inglis says.

He says that opening express lanes to more travellers, combined with changes to the assessment of passengers for biosecurity risk, will result in more efficient processing.

“Our biosecurity controls are necessary to protect New Zealand,” Inglis says. “At the same time, we want to build on processing improvements over the past year that have resulted in nearly a 50% reduction in the time it takes passengers to get through biosecurity at Auckland Airport.”

He says the quickest way to pass through biosecurity screening is to avoid bringing food or other items that could pose a biosecurity risk.

He adds that travellers who complete a digital declaration will increasingly experience faster border processing.

The New Zealand Traveller Declaration can be completed 24 hours before departing for New Zealand.

Summer 2024/25 will also see 44 part-time biosecurity hosts at New Zealand’s four main international airports.

“The move follows successful trials last summer, using 19 hosts to welcome air passengers on arrival, help with queue management, and provide friendly biosecurity assistance,” Inglis says.

An enhanced public awareness campaign aimed at travellers to New Zealand kicks off this month.

Like previous campaigns, it will encouraged travellers to declare or dispose of potentially harmful items upon arrival and prompt them to think about the things they are bringing before they arrive.

Inglis says the more informed travellers are about New Zealand’s biosecurity rules before they visit, the less likely they are to bring risk items in.

“Those who don’t declare face an infringement fee of $400 or even prosecution,” he says.

 

More like this

Fruit fly discovery 'concerning'

Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says that discovery of a male Oriental fruit fly on Auckland’s North Shore is a cause for concern for growers.

Velvetleaf a real risk to crops

Any farmer that harvests or buys crops risks inviting one of the world's most invasive pest plants onto their property - to their detriment.

Corn makes Christmas hit

Gisborne's record hot dry summer weather has produced rewards for one of the country's largest commercial growers based in the region - Leaderbrand.

Rise in fall armyworm numbers

Populations of fall armyworm are two to three weeks more advanced than they have been in previous seasons, bringing calls for maize and sweetcorn growers to scout their crops as often as possible.

Fruit fly controls to remain in place

According to Biosecurity New Zealand, legal controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in the South Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe will remain in place until mid-February.

Featured

Fruit fly discovery 'concerning'

Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says that discovery of a male Oriental fruit fly on Auckland’s North Shore is a cause for concern for growers.

Fonterra updates earnings

Fonterra says its earnings for the 2025 financial year are anticipated to be in the upper half of its previously forecast earnings range of 40-60 cents per share.

Nedap NZ launch

Livestock management tech company Nedap has launched Nedap New Zealand.

National

FE survey underway

Beef + Lamb NZ wants farmers to complete a survey that will shed light on the financial toll of facial…

Top dairy CEO quits

Arguably one of the country's top dairy company's chief executives, Richard Wyeth has abruptly quit Chinese owned Westland Milk Products…

Machinery & Products

New home for JCB Agriculture

Power Farming has announced a new chapter in its partnership with JCB, which having represented the UK-based company’s construction equipment…

CAT's 100th anniversary

While instantly recognised as the major player in construction equipment, Caterpillar Inc, more commonly known as CAT, has its roots…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Ruth reckons

OPINION: Ruth Richardson, architect of the 1991 ‘Mother of all Budgets’ and the economic reforms dubbed ‘Ruthanasia’, added her two…

Veg, no meat?

OPINION: Why do vegans and others opposed to eating meat try to convince others that a plant based diet is…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter