Rock melon interception at Auckland airport

Right about rock melon

Lesson for parents: Listen to your kids a little more, especially when it comes to giant rock melons and New Zealand’s biosecurity rules.

Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity officials last week seized a 14kg rock melon from an Afghanistan family of three arriving at Auckland airport from Malaysia.

The son spoke good English and told MPI staff that he tried to convince his parents not to bring the melon, but they didn’t listen.

The family had declared the melon, so didn’t face a fine.

“For us, it’s great to hear that young people from places as far away as Afghanistan are picking up our biosecurity messages,” says Craig Hughes, MPI’s Northern Border Clearance Manager, Passengers and Mail.

“I think the whole family should be congratulated for doing their bit for New Zealand’s biosecurity by correctly declaring the melon to our staff in the first place.”

He says the melon could have been carrying pests or diseases harmful to New Zealand’s primary industries and natural environment.

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