NZ: Less flights ease biosecurity
A Kiwifruit Vine Health spokesperson says the cancellation of the trans-Tasman international flights is nothing but good news for New Zealand's $4billion horticulture industry.
The export of fruit and vegetables is New Zealand's fourth largest export earner.
Since the trans-Tasman flights started in 2009, Rotorua Airport has been a potential entry pathway for biosecurity risks into New Zealand, she says. Of particular concern was the risk of importing Queensland Fruit Fly from Australia directly into the Bay of Plenty, says the spokesperson.
Two Queensland fruit flies were discovered in Whangarei this year – the first in January and the second in a surveillance trap, set up in response to the first find, in April.
Last year KVH completed a preliminary review of border interventions at Rotorua Airport to ensure potential biosecurity risks to the kiwifruit industry were being managed appropriately.
The report stated Rotorua Airport presented a low biosecurity risk compared to more than 70 per cent of international passengers landing in Auckland, two hours from the Bay of Plenty.
“While KVH was satisfied with the level of biosecurity intervention on this pathway, the cancellation of the flights eliminates this risk altogether and enables MPI [Ministry for Primary Industries] resources to be applied to managing other pathways,” says the spokesperson.
Tauranga Airport manager Ray Dumble says contrary to belief there may be a gap in the market now the airport will not be looking into adding international flights to its roster. Tauranga Airport is the fifth busiest controlled airport in New Zealand and capable of handling large aircraft such as Boeing 737-800 and Airbus 320. He says there are a number of factors which stand between the airport and international flights, something they are not willing to move past. Of particular concern is opening up the airport to overseas flights, bringing with it potential threats on the horticultural industry through such unwanted pests.
Kiwifruit growers are now taking legal action against the Ministry for Primary Industries, for compensation over losses caused by the bacterial disease Psa-V. They are aiming to hold Biosecurity NZ to account for allowing the disease to enter the country; to gain compensation for affected growers and to ensure such a breach of this country's bio-security never happens again.
All kiwifruit growers or post-harvest operators whose orchards or businesses were affected by Psa as at October 1, 2010, are eligible to be part of the action, even if they are no longer part of the industry.
Source: sunlive.co.nz
