From today, anyone entering New Zealand with undeclared plant, animal, or food material will be fined $200 immediately.
Biosecurity Minister Jim Sutton said that preventing potential disease or pest-carrying material entering New Zealand
was important to all New Zealanders.
"We have a special environment here in New Zealand and we want to keep it that way.
"We are heavily reliant on agriculture. It's what we make most of our money from. Two-thirds of our export earnings come
from animals, fruit and vegetables, and timber, and from processed products of those.
"New Zealand, as an island a long way away from anywhere else, doesn't have a lot of natural pests or diseases ? so when
something makes its way here ? say Asian gypsy moth ? potentially it has a huge effect."
Mr Sutton said the Labour-Alliance Government recognised that and had put a significant amount of extra funding into
biosecurity and border controls.
As well as a public awareness campaign about the importance of border controls and the risks of foot and mouth disease
and other pests and diseases, extra money has been spent on new x-ray machines and detector dogs. New Zealand is now the
only country in the world to screen 100 per cent of mail, baggage, and passengers.
The instant fine regime, which was to come into force on July 1, has been accelerated and now comes into force on June
18.
"The recent heightened awareness of the importance of biosecurity meant there was no point in delay, once staff were
trained and ready to implement the new enforcement regime."
"We have a lot to protect in New Zealand."
ENDS