The outbreak of Psa is a grim reminder how exposed we are as an economy to the effects of biological attack by unwanted organisms. Why then, would a party that claims to represent farmers reduce the border protection efforts to help pay for tax cuts.
The farmers and orchardists at risk from this ridiculous stance should reconsider their loyalty to a party that has deserted their needs. I have been contacted by people working in the system who say this is just the beginning of incursions that will occur because they can’t do their job properly.
Money and resources have been shifted internally to set up Smartgate and smoother passenger processing at our airports. Delays coming into this country are rarely long compared to the US process or the chaos at some larger international airports.
We should never compromise our biosecurity for convenience. The US dont do it for their security, why should we?? I wonder if Hilary passed that wisdom on to John or was he too starstruck to hear?
The stupidity of this decision!
I’m scared 
!
You know how it’s said that to shut up an Italian you should tie his hands behind his back? Well if you took Spud’s smileys away, would he stop posting?
You are a loose cannon. Your comments do more harm to the industry and the country than the disease. Technology and risk management advances do not necessarily demand (many) hands on management. As an ex Board member of MAFQual (involved in biosecurty) you are way off beam.
There are a couple of issues with your post Hon Member.
1. Kiwifruit Growerspresident Peter Ombler says that it’s possible Psa has been present in New Zealand for up to 10 years.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10686691
2. do you remember the Varroa Bee Mite? Happened on Labour’s watch …
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests/varroa
Smartgate?
yeah right when its working. Either the computer is locked up or it doesn’t recognise you anyway
This is a typical cheap shot which shows that you are not even up to the job of Opposition, much less government. You have not even waited for all the facts to come out before insunuating that somehow this is all National’s fault and would never have happened under Labour. No doubt you also believe that Christchurch would not have suffered an outbreak of earthquakes due to national’s realigning of resources and money!!
Why don’t you start debating issues and providing solutions rather than dumb remarks like this. Especially when it is looking like this virus came in under Labour’s watch.
“Well if you took Spud’s smileys away, would he stop posting?”
Shame on you!
Looks to me like you’re trying to find weight to an already dysfunctional argument. Correct me if Im wrong, but isn’t Smart Gate a Customs process and not Bio-security? Articles I have read on the subject show that systems like this make less mistakes than humans do – so that said, how is that reducing our border security…….
(And yes I use Smart Gate several times a month and it has worked fine every time for me both here and in Sydney)
{Deleted, irrelevant. Spud my friend we really appreciate your support, but please try to comment on the content of the posts rather than making comments, however nice, that are not relevant. We need to be even handed and we will delete comments that are off topic. Thanks, Grant}
There is absolutely no why to know whether this is related to cuts or whether or not it would have happened even if funding had been kept at previous levels…
I can’t even begin to guess at the relevance of the Smart Gate comment… MAF and NZ Customs are different departments with different votes in the Budget, an MP really should know that…
*no way to
@ The various critics – truth hurts doesn’t it!! You cannot cut back on basics and expect the status quo. The cuts (the various departments call them restructures) are happening across the board; most government agencies are pretty much in turmoil. I arrived in NZ during the UK foot and mouth epidemic; the border controls were rigid to say the least, in recent times I cannot say they were anywhere nearly as stringent. What worries me is that this could be NZ’s foot and mouth.
@Ian this could have happened at any time in the last 10 years, finger pointing at this point makes no sense… It is just politicking…