24 August 2000

Greens support calls for car checking

Green Party Biosecurity Spokesperson Ian Ewen-Street today said the Green Party welcomed calls for used vehicles being imported into New Zealand to be inspected a maximum of 10 days before being shipped to New Zealand.

Under MAF's new draft import health standard which was issued yesterday for discussion at least 10 per cent of all used vehicles coming to New Zealand would need to be thoroughly inspected internally and externally for contamination on arrival. If contaminated vehicles are found in New Zealand they are to be returned at the exporters expense.

"The Greens support the measures in this discussion paper which beef up our border control," said Mr Ewen-Street. "We must act on this issue because we have become been poor performers on biosecurity."

However Mr Ewen-Street said he hoped people would push for more than what the MAF paper was suggesting.

"For example is it unreasonable for New Zealand to demand that every single car entering this country should be inspected, instead of simply a 10 per cent minimum?" he asked.

"The Green Party welcome this paper as a step in the right direction but do not feel it goes far enough in protecting our nation and our industries from the very real threat of imported pests," he said.

Ian Ewen-Street MP: 04 470 6726, 025 902 527

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