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Biosecurity boost not enough - Labour

Published: 6:35PM Friday July 20, 2012 Source: ONE News

Critics say the addition of five new sniffer dogs at our international airports is not enough to protect New Zealand's most valuable industries.

More than 90 biosecurity jobs have disappeared in the last four years, and during that time the horticulture industry has suffered two significant threats.

"We believe the system needs a complete review and overhaul," said Labour's primary industries spokesperson Damien O'Connor.

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"We have to remember that dogs are the last line of defence. If we get one nasty pest or disease it will be irreversible."

Out on the orchard, the concerns are shared.

"It is a nervous time because I know there is not the resources there to catch everything," said orchardist Monte Neal.

But Primary Industries Minister David Carter said they can rest easy because New Zealand has "the best biosecurity system in the world".

"I am keen to get us to the stage where we can say we are monitoring every international flight coming into our airports," Carter said.

This year suburbs of Auckland were locked down after a single Queensland fruit fly arrived here.

And the kiwifruit-killing disease Psa also made it across the border.

Neal says New Zealand's economic "fruits" deserve better protection.

"We need more people on the frontline and we need more education of visitors to this country," he said.

The Government says as well as the extra dogs, it is also bolstering frontline workers.

"We are now actively recruiting more positions at the border with 40 staff about to start at the border in the next two weeks," said Carter.

Eight new trainers are also needed so the extra dogs can get to work as soon as they graduate.

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