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.
It is "inbelievable" that it took six weeks to identify a limb found in palm kernel expeller (PKE) came from a New Zealand sheep, says Labour's biosecurity and primary industries spokesperson Damien O'Connor says.
"The discovery of an animal limb in a shipment of PKE delivered to a Bay of Plenty farmer has rightly rung alarm bells across our primary sector economy," says O'Connor.
"It resulted in a six-week long process to identify what the Ministry of Primary Industries initially claimed was a bone from a small exotic animal, but which it now 'confirms' as having come from a New Zealand sheep.
"This unbelievably long and protracted process raises as many questions as it provides interim answers.
"The system is clearly failing if it takes that long to identify a domestic sheep limb.
"Primary Industries Minister, Nathan Guy, and Ministry bosses have offered numerous assurances in the past - on a range of issues - that later proved to be inaccurate, hence I have little confidence in today's announcement.
"If it takes MPI six weeks to identify a NZ sheep, no wonder it is blind to the risk of contamination in PKE imports.
"Two farmers provided the information and evidence exposing the threat, yet Mr Guy and his officials continue to deny the reality of this potential pathway for foot and mouth disease to enter New Zealand.
"I simply can't believe it has taken the Minister this long to identify where, or what, the limb came from. I also don't believe that he is operating a safe biosecurity system."
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.