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Media Release |
19 October 2005
Know the Enemy – public watch crucial to keep New Zealand safe from pests.
Biosecurity New Zealand has launched a spring Know the Enemy campaign to educate New Zealanders about more of the exotic pests that pose dangers to our economy and environment.
The first wave of the campaign, which arms ordinary New Zealanders with the information needed to spot biosecurity risks and report them to Biosecurity New Zealand, was launched in June. The second wave also features seven pests and follows two recent high profile incursion responses for Didymo algae and Seasquirt.
Biosecurity New Zealand’s awareness programme manager Carolyn Kildare says while those responses have heightened public awareness of the risks of exotic pests to the New Zealand environment, lifestyle and economy, the next step was getting New Zealanders to appreciate their role as a second line of defence, and to watch for and report suspicious pests and diseases.
“Both of the recent incursion responses have heightened people’s awareness that exotic pests pose big risks to our environment, our people and our economy. Didymo threatens New Zealand's reputation as a prime fishing destination, and sea squirt could impact on marine farming, which is a multi-million dollar industry.
“We have some of the toughest border controls in the world, but it’s unrealistic to expect absolutely everything to be stopped at the border. Early post-border detection is the key, and after our surveillance programmes, our best eyes and ears are the public.
“The impact of an exotic pest becoming established could be disastrous, affecting our way of life, health, environment and export industries. It’s even more important when you consider that New Zealand is the only country in the world with a biologically-based economy. This campaign is about providing the information to protect New Zealand,” says Ms Kildare.
Phase two of the campaign focuses on several pests and diseases:
- Asian Gypsy Moth
- Cape Tulip
- BSE (mad cow disease)
- Salvinia (Kariba Weed)
- Formosan Subterranean Termite
- Equine influenza
- Colorado Potato Beetle
New Zealanders are encouraged to be vigilant and keep a constant look out for these pests and any other unusual looking insects and plants.
The main message from the campaign is: Keep out, Look out, Help out.
Keep Out – Keep exotic pests and diseases out of New Zealand. Know and understand all the Biosecurity rules when you travel – declare food, put fresh food into the amnesty bins and clean your camping gear before you pack. Ask friends and family to declare exactly what’s in the parcels they send you from overseas.
Look Out – Be on the look out for the enemy. Know what exotic pests and diseases look like, visit www.biosecurity.govt.nz for an extensive list and if you discover one, call the Biosecurity hotline on 0800 80 99 66 immediately. If you buy an imported product – keep an eye out for pests hiding inside it.
Help Out – This is a job for all New Zealanders. Remember, it only takes one pest or disease to damage the country – and it only takes one of us to save it.
The Spring 2005 phase of Know the Enemy focuses on residents in the main port cities – Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch - and will include radio and print advertising, maildrops and promotions in local shopping malls. Phase One of the campaign was launched in June and profiled other plants and pests. Biosecurity will launch further phases next year.
‘Biosecurity' is the protection of New Zealand's economy, environment and people's health from pests and diseases. It includes trying to prevent new pests and diseases arriving, and eradicating or controlling those already present. Biosecurity New Zealand was launched in 2004 and is responsible for ensuring New Zealand’s biosecurity is effective and efficient.
Please refer to the media backgrounder for more information on Biosecurity NZ and each of the Phase Two pests and diseases
For further information on the Know the Enemy Campaign and Biosecurity New Zealand visit www.biosecurity.govt.nz
Media contact:
Phil Barclay
Senior Communications Adviser
Biosecurity New Zealand
027 229 9145
phillip.barclay@maf.govt.nz
