Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Six New MAF Biosecurity Detector Dogs Start Work

Six New MAF Biosecurity Detector Dogs Start Work

Six new MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) detector dogs started work this week at Auckland and Christchurch airports and the International Mail Centre in Auckland.

MAFBNZ Detector Dog Programme Manager, Stuart Rawnsley, said the MAFBNZ detector dog programme trained both ‘passive’ response dogs, like Beagles with natural scenting ability and high interest in food, as well as ‘active’, often mixed-breed dogs keen on play and retrieving. Both sniffed out meat, plants, seeds, live animals including snakes, animal products, and fruit and vegetables prohibited from entering New Zealand.

Mr Rawnsley said since 1996 when New Zealand first introduced its dog detector programme, Beagles had become a familiar sight checking bags at our international airports. At the same time, behind the scenes ‘active’ response dogs checked goods and mail at Auckland’s International Mail Centre, air cargo companies and the country’s ports. Work by the dogs complemented other MAFBNZ tools, such as X-Ray machines

MAFBNZ leads a biosecurity system that works overseas to stop travellers and importers from bringing pests here, at the border to identify and eliminate pests that do arrive, and within New Zealand to find, manage or eliminate pests that have established here. Detector dogs played a vital part in helping protect New Zealand from introduced pests and diseases.
Mr Rawnsley said active response dogs were often obtained from dog pounds or the SPCA aged around 18 months. All the dogs underwent eight weeks initial training at Auckland’s Detector Dog Training Centre and worked with their Biosecurity Inspector handlers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

‘Finds’ were rewarded with a pat and praise, a biscuit, or the chance to play with a favourite toy. New Zealand’s detector dogs had become world famous, with graduates of MAFs breeding programme currently protecting borders in countries like Argentina, Canada, Hawaii and Australia.

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.