6 Dec 2016

Cooks aims for better response to invasive species

8:06 pm on 6 December 2016

The Cook Islands Minister of Agriculture wants immediate action to curb the impact of invasive species.

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Photo: RNZ / Daniela Maoate-Cox

This comes after the importation of avocado trees from New Zealand and Australia seven years ago was believed to be the source of the destructive black twig borer now present in the country.

Minister Kiriau Turepu said both the ministry and private individuals had brought in the plants but he said it was a problem he had only been made aware of in the past two weeks.

Mr Turepu said the problem in the Cook Islands was the lack of a post quarantine facility to ensure the plants were disease free.

But he said he expected this to change quickly.

"I just had my officials in the office this afternoon. I told them to ensure that this is a priority - the post quarantine facility. It is of high priority and I would like to take this issue to Cabinet and mention the need for us to put up a post quarantine facility as soon as possible," said Kiriau Turepu.

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