Biosecurity Institute not consulted on billion trees plan

The New Zealand Biosecurity Institute says it was not consulted when a list of trees was published for the billion tree programme. The list was produced to encourage ordinary New Zealanders to help the Government reach its goal, which requires two million trees to be planted each week. However the Ministry for Primary Industries has had to remove a dozen species from the list of trees after some were revealed to be pests. The Biosecurity Institute represents about 400 scientists and companies in the pest control business. Its president is Darion Embling, and he told Eric Frykberg the mistake is disappointed.