New Zealand’s commercial fruit and vegetable growers are concerned we’ve welcomed a variety of new pests into the country, along with rugby fans.
An investigation by TV3’s Firstline has revealed what all growers feared – that the Rugby World Cup has been used as a reason to significantly reduce New Zealand’s border protection.
More than 270,000 passengers have walked straight out of our international airports without having their bags x-rayed.  Last month, half of the Trans-Tasman arrivals were not x-rayed.
“If we are simply doing this to save 15 minutes for rugby fans, then I really hope they’ve got this right,” HortNZ president Andrew Fenton says.
“Because the risk is enormous – $800 million alone, just in the Bay of Plenty, not to mention upwards of 5000 jobs lost.
“All it takes is one Queensland Fruit Fly, found in one monitoring trap, on one orchard. International markets will close to us, for at least a year, if not longer.
“This government initiative could turn out to be a very expensive decision.”
