Roadmap set to double hort exports by 2035
It's critical that the horticulture sector works together as part of a goal to double the sector’s exports by 2035.
Border officials sent two foreign air passengers packing last Friday after they tried to smuggle seeds through Auckland airport.
The seeds were found after a Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) quarantine inspector became suspicious of two Chinese passport holders arriving from Shanghai and sent them to have their luggage searched.
The search unearthed 14 foil-wrapped packages of seeds. The packages had been concealed under the inner soles of shoes, within a carton lining, in a handbag and in some wedding invitations.
A police officer also conducted a personal search of one of the passengers after a MPI detector dog gave a positive indication when sniffing the pair.
As a result of the seed find, immigration officials refused the husband and wife entry permission to the country. They were sent back to China that night and are unlikely to be granted visas to enter New Zealand in the future.
"The pair acted recklessly. They either ignored or failed to understand that the illegal importation of seeds could devastate New Zealand's horticulture industry or native plant life," says MPI's Craig Hughes, Manager North Passenger and Mail.
He says the successful outcome was the result of positive interaction between all border agencies.
The seeds have yet to be identified.
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says fruit and vegetable growers around the country will be delighted to hear of MPI's dealings with the two illegal seed importers.
"MPI's decision to just send them back to where they came from suits growers just fine," says president Andrew Fenton.
"People who deliberately try to smuggle seeds into this country need to be sent packing.
"It would be nice if we could fine them heaps as well, but this sends a much stronger message to their friends, families and their own wallets."
Strong biosecurity protection is a major key to the continued growth of New Zealand's horticulture industry. "Vigilance at our border will always be the backbone for growth of all our primary sector industries. We can't grow without that protection.
"Anyone who threatens our border should get a quick look at the Arrivals Hall and then be turned around fast back to where they came from," Fenton says.
Meat co-operative, Alliance has met with a group of farmer shareholders, who oppose the sale of a controlling stake in the co-op to Irish company Dawn Meats.
Rollovers of quad bikes or ATVs towing calf milk trailers have typically prompted a Safety Alert from Safer Farms, the industry-led organisation dedicated to fostering a safer farming culture across New Zealand.
The Government has announced it has invested $8 million in lower methane dairy genetics research.
A group of Kiwi farmers are urging Alliance farmer-shareholders to vote against a deal that would see the red meat co-operative sell approximately $270 million in shares to Ireland's Dawn Meats.
In a few hundred words it's impossible to adequately describe the outstanding contribution that James Brendan Bolger made to New Zealand since he first entered politics in 1972.
Dawn Meats is set to increase its proposed investment in Alliance Group by up to $25 million following stronger than forecast year-end results by Alliance.
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