Labour strongly endorses the view of the Forest Owners Association chief executive Sir Ron Carter that New Zealand airports should continue to have separate biosecurity checks.

Labour's forestry spokesperson Pete Hodgson said that amalgamating biosecurity checks with customs and immigration services would put all primary production, including forestry, at unnecessary risk.

Biosecurity is arguably the most important security issue New Zealand faces. Labour will not amalgamate services for the convenience of the airline industry. Biosecurity is a specialist service requiring specialist staff. It needs to remain focussed, and not be blurred by visa checks and searches for whiskey.

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