Woman fined $10,000 over illegal birds' nests

Nearly 50 raw swiftlet birds' nests were seized from the woman's property. Photo / iStock

A woman has been fined $10,000 for possessing and selling illegally imported edible birds' nests.

Last week, Judge Blackie declined Stacey Miao Yu's application for a discharge without conviction on two charges under the Biosecurity Act 1993, to which she pleaded guilty to in July.

Nearly 50 raw swiftlet birds' nests were seized from Yu's property during a Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) raid in June last year.

The nests are thought to provide health benefits to those who eat them and are made with the saliva of a species of swiftlet bird. However, they are known to carry a number of significant avian diseases not found in New Zealand.

"The defence counsel argued Yu was naive about New Zealand's biosecurity rules," said MPI Investigations Manager David Blake.

This was countered by MPI pointing out that Yu had worked for an airline until very recently, with her main business involving legally importing and selling cosmetics and commercially processed bird nests.

"In these roles she would have experienced New Zealand's biosecurity processes," he said. "MPI hopes the conviction and fine given to Ms Yu will deter anyone thinking of importing raw bird nest into New Zealand."