Ron Mark MP
New Zealand First Deputy Leader
26 AUGUST 2015
Major Biosecurity Breach at Port Taranaki
New Zealand First can reveal there was a major biosecurity breach last night when a large amount of quarantined imported
maize was spilt on New Plymouth’s Ocean Beach Parade and Bayly Road, ironically, near the Ministry for Primary
Industries offices.
“The maize had not been cleaned up at the port but was being trucked around the country, with any unwanted seeds and
diseases a danger to New Zealand,” says acting Primary Industries Spokesperson Ron Mark.
“The government claims milling at destination will denature it, but that’s too late, as this spillage demonstrates.
“We have had calls that a substantial load was lost last night, so much so, that commercial vacuum cleaners were used
late into the night.
“This is deeply concerning. It highlights the weakness of biosecurity, especially when people near the site say they
were warned ‘not to drive through it, in case tyres picked up maize’.
“We want assurances from the government and the ministry over how this maize was collected and disposed of.
“There is a disconnect between reality and practice by Biosecurity New Zealand. The government does not understand the
difference between denaturing at the port of entry and transporting cargo like this all over the country to
‘transitional facilities’.
“The loss of this load yet again highlights how amateur this government is at biosecurity because these loads are
obviously not secure and we know for a fact it is not the first spill,” says Mr Mark.
ENDS