Top ag scientist to advise PM
A highly experienced agricultural scientist with specialist knowledge of the dairy sector is the Prime Minister's new Chief Science Advisor.
Stephen James graduated from his training as a quarantine inspector and a dog handler at a ceremony in Auckland on Friday, along with 46 other new biosecurity frontline staff. Today is his first day on the job as a warranted inspector.
He will work with Vinnie, an experienced beagle, to sniff out exotic pests and diseases that pose biosecurity risk to New Zealand.
Stephen will be joined by handler Jemma Grant and detector dog Rogue.
Jemma, a quarantine inspector for more than four years, graduated as a dog handler at Friday's ceremony. It will be the first day on the job for 6-year-old Rogue.
The two teams will work at the local port as well as the airport.
"The new staff we have just deployed across the country will bring MPI's biosecurity frontline up to full strength and will help the ministry meet the demands of the busy summer peak season," says border clearance services manager Steve Gilbert.
He says detector dog teams are very useful for detecting biosecurity risks when used with other checks.
"No tool is sufficient to manage biosecurity by itself. Dogs are good at picking up seeds and plants that can be hard to detect by x-ray. They also screen people faster than x-ray, and their visual presence is a significant factor," he says.
