A very expensive fly in the social and economic ointment

A very expensive fly in the social and economic ointment

Rural Women New Zealand is alarmed that there has been another fruit fly incursion – the fourth in three years.

This latest incident is a chilling reminder of the long reach a biosecurity breach has into New Zealand.

“The downstream effects are widespread, affecting the growers, their families and communities, both socially and economically,” says Fiona Gower, Rural Women New Zealand’s environments spokesperson.

Rural Women backs the call by Horticulture NZ to bring in 100 percent passenger bag x-rays at all international airports, and for MPI to invest in a better border control system to prevent this happening again.

“In our Manifesto we recommend better controls at the border as we see containment as a more cost-effective strategy.

“Growers take pride in their worldwide reputation for quality produce that has been built over many years. To have this reputation undermined because of a failure to protect our borders is devastating.”

Ends

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