A newly-formed Tauranga biosecurity group has welcomed a national campaign to protect New Zealand from invasive pests and diseases.
The national campaign, launched last night, calls on all New Zealanders to get involved in the effort to protect the country from
Right behind the new campaign was Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital, a new collaboration between community groups, iwi, industry and business, councils, central government, science and education representatives.
Group co-chairman Carlton Bidois said the campaign aimed to show people they had a lot to lose.
"A single organism like the brown marmorated stink bug or fruit fly could bankrupt the horticultural sector and its families overnight. Kauri dieback and myrtle rust could see the potential annihilation of our iconic kauri and other indigenous tree species, severing the inherent cultural genealogy and traditions Maori have with the natural world."
