NZB to Cover Extra Transport Cost to NSW Buyers

NZB to Cover Extra Transport Cost to NSW Buyers

New Zealand Bloodstock has announced that it will cover the extra travel cost to buyers from New South Wales of floating their Karaka yearling purchases from Melbourne into the New South Wales Green Zone.

Current travel restrictions imposed by the NSW Department of Primary Industries require all horses to be fully vaccinated with ProteqFlu or Recombitek equine influenza (EI) vaccine before entering NSW Restricted Zones (Purple, Red and Amber zones). Due to the unavailability of the ProteqFlu or Recombitek EI vaccine in New Zealand (being genetically modified vaccines), horse imports from New Zealand are unable to comply with the DPI requirements for NSW at this time. Horses are therefore prevented from flying directly into Sydney Airport from New Zealand.

To assist buyers from New South Wales attending New Zealand Bloodstock's National Sales at Karaka next week, New Zealand Bloodstock will fly Karaka yearlings into Melbourne for the same cost of flying into Sydney, and then cover the additional cost to buyers of floating horses from Melbourne into the New South Wales Green Zone. These horses are not required to be vaccinated unless and until they are due to enter a NSW Restricted Zone.

This NZB Travel Subsidy will apply to all horses purchased at the Karaka Sales next week and exported directly into New South Wales via Melbourne within two weeks.

New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Manager Greg Northcott said this is a way to ensure NSW buyers won't be disadvantaged at Karaka.

"There has been some uncertainty amongst buyers about what restrictions are in place for horses entering Sydney, and what additional costs might be incurred. We hope this gives them some comfort since in terms of transport costs they will not have to pay any more than flying their horses into Sydney Airport directly."

"With the EI situation improving each day, it is our understanding that NZ horses are likely to be able to resume normal travel directly into Sydney by mid-March. As an alternative to the NZB Travel Subsidy, Sydney buyers may therefore choose to leave their horses in New Zealand until such time as the current restrictions are lifted."

For further information please contact New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Manager Greg Northcott. (greg.northcott[at]nzb.co.nz)

ENDS

© Scoop Media