Border gets biosecurity boost

Two Queensland fruit flies found in Whangarei in 2014, have led to the Ministry for Primary Industries increasing biosecurity checks on boats entering Northland waters.

Extra officers will bolster biosecurity checks in Northland to prevent a fruit fly infestation with the spotlight being put on international yachts.

Naval and aerial surveillance will also be carried out to ensure vessels do not make landfall in New Zealand before they arrive at Opua or Marsden Cove, the only approved places for yachts to arrive in Northland.

Four extra Ministry for Primary Industries staff will be based in the region to carry out biosecurity inspections from October to December.

Last season MPI introduced a range of new biosecurity checks following the discovery of two Queensland fruit fly in Whangarei in 2014.

MPI North Ports manager Sharon Tohovaka said following successful trials last season, biosecurity dog teams would also be used to help check selected vessels for undeclared food, plants and other risk goods that could carry pests and diseases. "We need to make sure yachts are clean before they start exploring the region or other parts of New Zealand," Ms Tohovaka said.

"On the whole, the yachting community is very good at following New Zealand's biosecurity requirements, but last season showed there is value in providing more education and more layers of protection."

In addition to the extra staff, naval patrols and aerial swoops of vessels approaching Northland's coast will also be part of the surveillance. MPI has been working to raise the level of biosecurity awareness among the yacht community and have visited Fiji to speak with yachties intending to sail to New Zealand. Sending officers to the two main gathering points in Fiji and Tonga had been useful and would be repeated this year, Ms Tohovaka said.