Olympics: MAF confirms NZ medallists must leave wreaths

1.00pm

The victors' wreaths placed on the heads of medallists have been a feature of the Athens Olympics, but New Zealand's winners won't be able to bring them home.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry today confirmed that the wreaths -- made of olive branches, chrysanthemums and roses -- would not get past border controls.

The manager of the plant imports team at MAF's Biosecurity Authority, Veronica Herrera, said the reason was the material could be propagated.

"A lot of the material is still viable, so if you plant it and the conditions are right, they could develop roots and grow," she said.

"They could carry pests and diseases, and that could be passed on to other plants."

She said spraying would treat some of the problems, such as insects, but would not deal with others, like viruses and other other micro-organisms.

So far, three New Zealanders have worn the wreaths on the podium -- rowers Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindells, and cyclist Sarah Ulmer, all as gold medallists.

Rowing team manager James Sheehan said after the Evers-Swindells' victory in the double sculls that the twins would not be putting their wreaths in their luggage.

Instead, the wreaths were being split up and the pieces handed out to support staff as a gesture of thanks for the help the two women had received in their Olympic campaign.

Plant material has been brought back to New Zealand before by an Olympic champion.

A potted oak that Jack Lovelock was given by Adolf Hitler after winning the 1500m in the 1936 Berlin Olympics was planted at Timaru Boys High School, where the tree still stands.

- NZPA