News in brief

Forest and Bird, Issue 305, 1 August 2002, Unnumbered Page (Supplement)

News in brief

Pests hitchhiking on containers

A review of shipping container inspections — scheduled to be released in September — is expected to show that many pests are slipping into the country on containers. Painted apple moth almost certainly arrived in New Zealand on a shipping container from Australia. When the report is released it is most important that the Government hears, via submissions, that we need much high levels of inspections of containers. Our website will host information about this report when it is released (see www.forestandbird.org.nz).

Greater pest surveillance effort needed

New Zealand does not have an effective biosecurity surveillance regime around high-risk areas such as ports and international airports. The importance of surveillance was highlighted earlier this year when invasive crazy ants were discovered during fire ant surveillance. New Zealand needs to substantially lift its surveillance effort to stop new pests arriving here. This is a critically important issue for the new Government. Write to the Minister of Biosecurity asking that the government sets up an effective surveillance regime in high risk areas such as ports and airports.

Marine reserves campaign success

The Government introduced the Marine Reserves Bill to Parliament the day before Forest and Bird presented its marine reserves campaign banners to the Prime Minister. The new bill aims to streamline the marine reserves application process and should make it easier to create marine reserves. Well done to all of those who joined in the campaign, took the banners out and those of you who signed the banners. Submissions on the Bill will be called after the election.