The Coalition Government is taking action to ensure a key part of New Zealand‘s biosecurity infrastructure is up to standard, Biosecurity Minister Damien O‘Connor has announced.

“I‘ve asked Biosecurity New Zealand to take a fresh look at the facilities where containers of imported goods are initially emptied and checked for biosecurity risks,” O‘Connor said.

“I‘ve also asked Biosecurity New Zealand to investigate new ways of dealing with the increasing threat posed by the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug and other emerging biosecurity risks. We must ensure the biosecurity risk is as far offshore as possible. We will work with industry to ensure every part of the biosecurity system is bolstered so it is agile enough to deal with new threats as they emerge.”

O‘Connor said this action was taken after an imported stink bug was found in Tauranga late last year. There were 29 transitional facilities handling imports within two kilometres of where the stink bug was found.

“These facilities are dotted around our ports and airports, and are a key component of New Zealand‘s biosecurity infrastructure. They are on the frontline for keeping out unwanted pests like the stink bug, which could destroy our horticultural crops, cost our economy billions of dollars and literally be a plague on our houses if they become established in New Zealand.”

While no further bugs have been found in Tauranga following intensive trapping and detector dog surveillance, O‘Connor said New Zealand can‘t be too careful or hands-off when it comes to biosecurity.

“That is why I have requested Biosecurity New Zealand to take a fresh look at the country‘s 4518 transitional facilities to make sure they have the capacity and expertise to properly handle increasing numbers of imports in a riskier global biosecurity environment.”

This builds on work last year bringing new fines into force for facilities that don‘t have operators approved by Biosecurity New Zealand.

“We will do what it takes to keep pests like the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug from establishing here,” said O‘Connor.