Celebrating success
The Director General of MPI, Ray Smith says it's important for his department to celebrate the success of a whole range of groups and people around the country.
A passenger arriving at Wellington airport has had to give up his lucky charms due to their potential biosecurity risk.
The charms, made from snake parts (including fangs from Thailand) and horsehair, are thought to be lucky in the search for gold. The passenger arrived from Australia and said the charms were usually attached to his metal detector when he went looking for gold.
He declared the items to Ministry for Primary Industries staff on his way into New Zealand, but staff considered the risk too great to allow the charms through.
"There was no way we were going to allow the passenger to keep the animal parts with him during his stay in New Zealand, as they could
have been carrying pests or diseases," says MPI team manager Tony Owen.
"As he was planning to leave New Zealand by the same airport, he had the options of having MPI destroy the charms or hold them until his departure," says Owen.
The passenger chose for MPI to hold the items and collected them on his way home five days later.
"We didn't think the charms were particularly lucky when you consider the potential harmful effects to industry or New Zealand's native species," says Owens.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
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