NZ nears Mycoplasma bovis eradication milestone
A major milestone on New Zealand's unique journey to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis could come before the end of this year.
New Zealand's border inspection system is getting a new fleet of x-ray machines.
Eleven x-ray machines will replace existing machines at Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown airports used to inspect both the checked-in and hand luggage of people arriving in New Zealand.
Auckland and Christchurch will also receive new technology to reduce the amount of handling required to load and unload luggage onto and off the x-ray machines.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy announced this at Horticulture NZ's annual conference today.
"The new x-ray images will be of a better quality than we currently have, which will make Quarantine Inspectors' jobs easier and more efficient," says Guy.
"This is the first step of a major equipment replacement programme as part of our ongoing commitment to strengthen New Zealand's biosecurity system.
"This investment in one of the tools that the Ministry for Primary Industries uses at the border, along with the continuing recruitment of frontline Quarantine Inspectors and increases in dog handler teams," he says.
A brilliant result and great news for growers and regional economies. That's how horticulture sector leaders are describing the news that sector exports for the year ended June 30 will reach $8.4 billion - an increase of 19% on last year and is forecast to hit close to $10 billion in 2029.
Funding is proving crucial for predator control despite a broken model reliant on the goodwill of volunteers.
A major milestone on New Zealand's unique journey to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis could come before the end of this year.
We're working through it, and we'll get to it.
The debate around New Zealand's future in the Paris Agreement is heating up.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.