Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc) President Alistair Polson has urged all New Zealanders to be especially vigilant about biosecurity with the influx of overseas visitors over the Christmas period.

"Visitors from all over the world will visit New Zealand this Christmas and thousands of kiwis will be returning home," said Mr Polson. "Many will travel from the United Kingdom where this year's foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak took a terrible toll. Others will come from parts of the world where FMD is present, such as Asia and Africa."

"All New Zealanders hosting overseas visitors have a responsibility to ensure their guests are aware of the vital importance of complying with New Zealand's border control regulations and protecting New Zealand's biosecurity.

"FMD is estimated to have cost the British economy $30 billion. One serious new pest could threaten our economy, our health, our jobs and our lifestyle. New Zealand's clean green image, and our flora and fauna are worth protecting and all New Zealanders have a part to play," Mr Polson concluded.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>