Listen: M. bovis - 'We've all got an interest in eradicating this'

Minister for Agriculture Damien O'Connor . Photo / Simon Cartwright

The total number of properties infected with Mycoplasma bovis has risen to 32 with two new cases found in Mid-Canterbury and Canterbury. There are also unsubstantiated rumours that there is another infected property in Waikato.

Minister for Agriculture Damien O'Connor addressed the rumours when he spoke to The Country's Jamie Mackay saying there are about 50 properties under restricted place notices, including some in the North Island and "they could very well end up being infected properties."

So far testing in the North Island has been negative says O'Connor "so we've got our fingers crossed."

The new cases haven't changed the Ministry for Primary Industries' view that Mycoplasma bovis can be contained and eradicated.

"We've all got an interest in eradicating this"

Also in today's interview: Damien O'Connor defends his government's stance on irrigation, oil exploration and exploring FTA's with the likes of Russia and North Korea.

Listen below: