As soon as myrtle rust was discovered here the government should have been ready and prepared with an immediate formal announcement. Instead, Minister Guy was caught out completely.
The unwelcome arrival of myrtle rust in New Zealand is a major concern for New Zealand and a blow for Northland. It's unfortunate that a Kerikeri nursery owner was the first to discover this destructive fungus on some of his pohutukawa trees. We know now that a second Kerikeri orchard has been affected.
New Zealand First raised the serious risk of myrtle rust in Parliament a month ago, and immediately before confirmation last week. We are not seeking credit for this, but we wanted to make sure New Zealand was prepared should an outbreak occur.
Myrtle rust can prove devastating for feijoa orchards, eucalyptus forests, nurseries growing myrtaceous species, and is a serious risk to our native icons pohutukawa, rata, kanuka and manuka.
Export revenue for New Zealand pure honey reached a record $315 million last financial year, up 35 per cent on the previous year, and much of this success was down to manuka honey.