Two companies that conspired to breach biosecurity laws and import an illegal parasite have been fined a total of $40,000.
Zonda Resources Ltd and Great Lake Tomatoes Ltd brought in a predatory mirid bug in 2006 to kill whiteflies which were destroying tomato crops.
Judge Cunningham told Auckland District Court she had to denounce and deter such behaviour. She said the companies knowingly flouted biosecurity processes and kept doing so after being warned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Great Lake Tomatoes was fined $30,000. Zonda Resources was fined $10,000 because of its limited ability to pay. The director of Zonda Resources will appear for sentencing in August.
The ministry says mirid bugs may have escaped into the wild.
It was thought all of the greenhouse-dwelling bugs had been destroyed, but ministry manager David Hayes says it is possible for the bugs to survive outside hothouses.
