Dead body, monkey intestines seized by border officials

Monkey intestines and an embalmed body are among items seized by New Zealand border officials, costing guilty travellers millions of dollars in fines.

The instant $200 fines have added more than $6 million to Crown coffers since being introduced in 2001 as the country's biosecurity authorities react to increasing pressure on New Zealand ports, a Christchurch daily newspaper reported today.

Biosecurity has been thrown into the spotlight in recent months as the country unwillingly becomes host to more exotic pests.

The latest invader, the didymo alga or "rock snot", has spread through pristine waterways, threatening New Zealand's reputation as a prime fishing destination.

Biosecurity New Zealand figures show about a third of travellers nabbed were Kiwis returning home. Europeans were caught almost as often, comprising about 20 per cent, while Asia and the Middle East, North America and Australia each contributed about 10 per cent of total fines.

Biosecurity NZ spokesman Phil Barclay said after inspection the embalmed body was allowed to enter the country.

But the 47kg of plant material packed into the coffin was destroyed. Monkey intestines were a delicacy in some Asian countries, he said.

Since 2001, the number caught has dropped from 9198 to 8618 travellers annually.

Mr Barclay said this showed the deterrent system was working. People were beginning to realise the importance of stopping foreign pests or diseases passing the borders.

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries quarantine service enforcement officer Richard Battrick said border staff often had to contend with abusive passengers who wanted the fine reduced or waived.

"Some feel it's their right to become angry and become abusive. That's not fair for the person having to do that job," he said.

The occasional tourist even resorted to bribery. A policeman would be called to tell the passenger this was "not the way things are done in New Zealand".

Border officials had to be uncompromising, only letting off the young, poor English speakers, or older people with dementia.

"Some find it unfair because they are getting an infringement for one apple. But it's the risk of the unknown. There are diseases in Europe that are endemic and controlled by vaccination that we don't have in New Zealand," he said.

Food people thought they could not get in New Zealand was the most often seized item.

"There's lots of European people who think their cheese is better than New Zealand cheese, but there's a right way and a wrong way of bringing it in."

Cheese that was not commercially packed or had its country of origin was not allowed in.

Canterbury orchardist Alison Lang said many people did not realise what was at stake when they entered New Zealand, potentially bringing in organisms that could cripple the country's economy.

"When we travel overseas we are always scrubbing our boots. I think good on them (for enforcing fines). If (travellers) get done, they know the rules," she said.

- nzpa