PETERS URGES MINISTERS TO ACT ON THREAT TO BEE INDUSTRY

In light of the present threat to the bee industry, three recent reports of imported snakes and numerous other examples of foreign pests coming into New Zealand, the Rt Hon Winston Peters MP, Leader of New Zealand First, today called on the Ministers of Agriculture and Bio-security to declare an emergency situation and immediately increase border protection measures.

“The Ministers must act now instead of passing the buck to officials who have already proven their incompetence in keeping pests out of New Zealand over the past few years.

“The bio-security controls in this country are in a shambles and have put our whole export industry at risk,” said Mr Peters.

Mr Peters said that there should be total pre-shipping de-contamination of all imported used vehicles and higher levels of inspections of containers coming into the country.

“The Ministers must take immediate charge of this emergency themselves until they can tell the country that they have taken all steps possible to minimise risks to New Zealand’s economy and ecology,” said Mr Peters.

ENDS

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