Deputy PM steps into Australian dirty boots debate

Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton has put the boot into the Australian rugby league team after star fullback Darren Lockyer and a trainer were fined for breaching New Zealand's biosecurity laws.

Lockyer was fined $200 by Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) for failing to declare dirty boots as he arrived in the country and trainer Greg Pierce was also fined after grass clippings were found on cones used for training.

The Kangaroos were disappointed by the incident, and said New Zealand Customs had attempted to "upset" one of their senior players.

But Jim Anderton, who is also the Customs Minister, said the Australians should have known about the border controls before coming to New Zealand.

"Don't come the raw prawn with me, mate. There are good biosecurity reasons for our strict border controls."

If they were looking for redress, Mr Anderton suggested there was only one place the Australians could take their complaints.

"The best place to settle this is on the field at the Wellington Stadium. I'll be there and I'm urging New Zealanders to show their support for our agricultural exporters by supporting our Kiwis."

Mr Anderton also had some advice for the Kangaroos, who he said hadn't noticed it was MAF, not Customs, that fined Lockyer.

"If they can't tell the difference between MAF officers and Customs officers who wear different coloured uniforms, how are they going to be able to tell who to pass the ball to?"