Inter-island Border Controls Needed?

Some form of agriculture border control needs to be introduced between the North and South Islands, ACT New Zealand Rural Affairs Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff said today

"The discovery of Post-weaning Multi-systematic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) in the North Island shows the Government must revisit the possibility of establishing such controls," Mr Eckhoff said.

"The alarming rate of bio-security breeches illustrates the necessity for a full cost-benefit analysis of this project to be undertaken immediately.

"The travelling public is already subject to security by air.

"It may well be time now to revisit the possibility of introducing some form of bio-security checks at the air and seaports in the interest of halting the spread of unwanted organisms into `clean' areas. Cook Strait is a natural barrier, despite the relative closeness of the North and South Islands.

"It could be a simple as an awareness campaign by posters - through to more physical inspection of goods. Doing nothing is not an option," Mr Eckhoff said.

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