News for 2007

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) has welcomed ERMA's approval of the Flu Avert® I.N vaccine for emergency use, should New Zealand ever face an equine influenza outbreak.

The invasive alga didymo has been detected at two sites upstream of the Rangitata Diversion Race (RDR) intake on the Rangitata River.

A North Canterbury farmer was today sentenced to fines and costs totalling $16,232.50 for allowing his stock to suffer from malnutrition brought on by prolonged starvation. He was also disqualified for a period of 5 years from owning or having an interest in sheep, (ewes, hoggets and lambs) and cows.

The invasive algae didymo has been confirmed in the Rangitata Diversion Race, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand announced today.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) is assessing today's Appeal Court decision regarding the above.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) is urging travellers to Australia to be mindful of a serious virus destroying abalone there and to take precautions to avoid inadvertently carrying it back to infect New Zealand paua.

Three members of the same family were each fined a total of $6250 in the Dannevirke District Court today for the ill-treatment of the dogs in their care. Each defended was also ordered to pay $750 solicitor costs, $139 court costs and James Livingstone was ordered to pay a further $213.80 for vet costs.

A Whangarei farmer banned from owning bovine animals for two years was today sentenced to 400 hours community service and ordered to pay $20,000 costs for contravening a 2005 Court Order issued for three previous offences relating to starving cows. His wife was convicted and discharged after pleading guilty to failing to attend to the physical and welfare needs of Cattle.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAF BNZ) today issued, for public consultation, four draft Import Heath Standards (IHSs) developed for pig meat and pig meat products. The draft standards are based on an import risk analysis on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus in pig meat.

A 21-year-old South African national, Pillipus Fourie, was convicted in Manukau District Court today for attempting to illegally smuggle parrot eggs into New Zealand.

With the discovery of dead didymo cells in several central North Island rivers yesterday, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) and Central North Island regional partner organisations are reminding anglers and other recreational freshwater users to check, clean and dry their equipment between waterways.

Dead didymo cells have been found in some samples of water taken late last week from the Tongariro, Whakapapa, Mangatepopo and Whanganui Rivers.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) is seeking submissions from interested parties on managing the risk of marine pest organisms being introduced to New Zealand in ships' ballast water.

For the second time since joining the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in 1925, New Zealand will host the OIE Regional Commission for Asia, the Far East and Oceania conference.

The invasive alga didymo has been detected in the upper Clarence River, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand announced today.

A 67 year-old farmer, Barry John Walker, was disqualified in the Dunedin District Court last week from owning or exercising authority over farm animals for 25 years and ordered to forfeit to the Crown all sheep tagged during a Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) investigation. All remaining sheep must be disposed of by the 12 October 2007, when the disqualification period commences.

With the fishing season due to start next Monday (October 1), MAF Biosecurity New Zealand and Fish & Game are reminding anglers, and other recreational freshwater users of the importance of cleaning their equipment between waterways.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) is continuing work tracing and seizing a number of genetically modified (GM) aquarium fish that are not permitted in the country.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's biosecurity arm, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) says New Zealand already has measures in place to protect against the introduction of bluetongue, but is nevertheless keeping an eye on the situation in the UK where bluetongue has been detected in a cow.

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) is seeking comment on a new draft code of welfare for dogs released today. The code outlines the minimum standards of welfare and recommended best practices for anyone responsible for dogs. All dogs, including pets, show dogs, working dogs or those used for breeding or sport, are covered by this code.

Notification of the numbers of animals used in research, testing and teaching was released today, in the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) Annual Report.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) has introduced interim emergency import requirements for horses from countries with endemic equine influenza, to further reduce the risk of the virus entering New Zealand.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) announced today that all test results from horses imported from Australia, and horses in contact with these animals, were negative for equine influenza.

There is currently no evidence of equine influenza in New Zealand. MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) is growing more confident that the virus has not arrived in the country as investigations into the 97 horses imported from Australia progress and time passes.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) has classified as high priority 14 premises that have received horses from Australia in the last ten days. MAFBNZ is in the process of collecting blood samples from these animals for testing. Samples will be completed by the end of tomorrow (Tuesday) and test results are expected early next week.

Following confirmation from the Australian Government that a number of horses in New South Wales and Queensland have symptoms of equine influenza, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) has moved quickly to trace horses that have entered the country from Australia since 1 August 2007.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand announced this afternoon that it has halted all imports of horses from Australia upon receiving notification from the Australian Government that horses in New South Wales are suspected to have contracted equine influenza.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) surveillance completed in July confirmed varroa has not spread outside of the Controlled Area at the top of the South Island.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand is constantly on the look out for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) because of the significant threat it presents to New Zealand's biologically-based economy. Therefore, the confirmation of FMD in cattle on a farm in Surrey, England, is no cause for alarm.

The latest findings from MAF Biosecurity New Zealand's Didymosphenia geminata (didymo) science programme were presented to the Didymo Technical Advisory Group and Long-Term Management partners at a seminar held in Wellington today.

A livestock dealer pleaded guilty to six charges under section 29(a) of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 in the Morrinsville District Court yesterday for the ill treatment of bulls in his care.

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) issued its 2006 Annual Report today.

Divers are braving the chilly waters of Bluff Port this week, wrapping wharf piles and structures in plastic sheeting as part of a programme to protect the precious Fiordland marine environment from invasive marine pests.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) welcomed a conviction handed down in the Hamilton District Court today to a local farmer for the ill-treatment of calves in his care.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) congratulates Massey University's Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre on being recognised as a Collaborating Centre of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) welcomes the sentence handed down today in the North Shore District Court to Auckland man for the illegal importation of aquatic plants and aquarium equipment.

Eradication of the Southern Saltmarsh Mosquito (SSM) Aedes camptoryhnchus from the saltmarsh habitat found at Shakespear Park on the Whangaparaoa peninsula has been completed.

New Zealand has been granted neglible BSE risk disease status at the 75th General Session of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), held in Paris last week.

New Zealand is now able to resume apple exports to Taiwan following a six week suspension.

Biosecurity New Zealand will run a didymo North Island find simulation exercise based in Taupo on Thursday May 31.

The single Asian Tiger Mosquito trapped at the Ports of Auckland near Quay Street in March was not evidence of an established population of the potentially disease-carrying insects, and no more have been detected despite extensive efforts, Biosecurity New Zealand announced today.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Animal Welfare Investigation Team welcomed the sentencing handed down in the Balclutha District Court today to a herd manager for the ill-treatment of animals.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's (MAF) Animal Welfare Investigation Team welcomed the sentence handed down in the Gisborne District Court today to a farm manager for the neglect of horses in his care.

The Deer Code of Welfare, issued yesterday by the Minister of Agriculture, aims to encourage all deer farmers to adopt the highest standards of husbandry, care and handling. It sets out general principles of care and is enhanced by Deer Industry New Zealand's (DINZ) DeerQA On-Farm Programme, which incorporates the recommendations of the code.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand has concluded an investigation into the interception of a codling moth in a consignment of Fuji apples to Taiwan and a report has been sent to Taiwan for their consideration.

Biosecurity New Zealand announced today it was temporarily suspending exports of apples to Taiwan after receiving confirmation, from Taiwanese officials, of a codling moth larva find in a consignment earlier this week.

Northland's devastating floods have delayed research and local meetings Biosecurity New Zealand had planned to learn more about an Australian sea squirt which bloomed in the Bay of Islands late this summer.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand is examining ways to enhance border security after the detection in the Cook Islands of a vineyard pest, the Glassywinged Sharpshooter.

A virus causing deformed wings (DWV) in bees has been identified on two properties in Northland and Waikato, Biosecurity New Zealand confirmed today.

Varroa bee mite education workshops for South Island beekeepers began in Nelson this week.

A mosquito caught in a trap at Shed 8 at the Ports of Auckland on March 1 has been confirmed as an Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) and the Ministry of Health's initial response handed over to MAF Biosecurity New Zealand.

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of cat ownership in the world - an estimated 900,000 to 1,500,000. And those cat lovers have now got some good guidance on how best to care for these loved and loving companions.

Red Imported Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta~fire ants) have been located on board a yacht moored at Westhaven Marina in Auckland.

Didymo has been detected in Queenstown Bay in Lake Wakatipu, Biosecurity New Zealand and the Queenstown Lakes District Council announced today.

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Director-General Murray Sherwin today released the final report by David Oughton into the circumstances associated with the imports of genetically modified corn seeds in late 2006.

After a recall notice was issued last week the Ministry of Health and MAF Biosecurity New Zealand have been alerted to the presence of more ‘Message in a Bottle’ novelty products in New Zealand.

Didymo has been detected in two more rivers at the top of the South Island, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand announced today.

The Ministry of Health and MAF Biosecurity New Zealand are urgently recalling a 'Message in a Bottle' product containing highly toxic seeds.