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Iguanas being kept as pets and at wildlife parks around the North Island have been seized and killed.
Eight of the reptiles, from Auckland, Northland and Tauranga, have been euthanased after being confiscated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
"They just came in and seized our two and put them down," said Mark Paterson, owner of Tauranga's Living Art Wildlife Park.
His wife was so upset she had to leave the property.
"Our iguanas sat on the couch watching TV, we walked them on leads, they were really well-loved. MAF have talked about compensation but they couldn't give me enough money to make up for it.
"When we bought the iguanas, we believed they were here legally."
The clampdown comes after a "determination" obtained from the Environmental Risk Management Authority by MAF this year declaring green iguanas unwanted organisms.
"Any iguana now in New Zealand is illegal," said spokesman Phil Barclay. "We advise anyone who has an iguana or any other exotic animal to contact MAF because of the disease risk."
