24 Jan 2019

NZ biosecurity rules 'ineffective' - car shipping line

From Morning Report, 7:55 am on 24 January 2019

The car shipping line, Scandinavia's Wallenius Wilhelmsen, is telling the government the biosecurity rules that are meant to keep the mamorated stink bug pest out of New Zealand are ineffective and inconsistent. And it's warning the government if the rules are not improved, the pests could spread here and harm the economy. The company's ships have been among five turned away from New Zealand ports at huge cost, after brown marmorated stink bugs were found. The chief commerical officer for the company, Simon White, tells Guyon Espiner the government must make sure the regulations work well for all in the industry - and do it soon.