Biosecurity New Zealand has launched an investigation after potentially fatal seeds made their way into the country.
The seeds from the plant abrus precatorius are contained in
novelty "message in a bottle" jars.
Each bottle, which is designed to be opened so that the recipient
can read the message inside, contains about 12 of the brightly
coloured seeds.
The plant is commonly known as the rosary pea, and officials are
worried young children could mistake the brightly-coloured seeds
for lollies.
They are highly toxic and can be fatal if chewed.
Biosecurity New Zealand senior advisor George Gill says they also pose a slight risk to the environment.
Symptoms of poisoning by the seeds are seen after a delay of hours or days; victims suffer nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain and diarrhoea, burning in throat followed by ulcerative lesions of the mouth and oesophagus.
Six bottles of the seeds are still missing. They were sold in Onehunga, Mt Maunganui and Foxton.
Anyone with one of the bottles should contact Biosecurity on 0800 80 99 66.
