The Ministry for Primary Industries will refund almost $200,000 after its botch-up over vet checks for pets entering the country.
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The Ministry said anyone who had brought a pet cat or dog from Australia into New Zealand between 1 December last year and the end of June had been overcharged.
Spokesperson Vanessa MacFarlane said of the 1500 people affected, they had so far contacted 351 and provided 128 refunds.
She said it was an internal review that found people should have been charged $41 per pet, rather than the hourly rate of $102.
Ms MacFarlane said the numbers owed a refund were increasing every day, with the cost being absorbed within the Ministry's existing funding.
The Ministry introduced a fixed cost of $57 per pet being imported from Australia from 1 July.
