Playing with fire as another fruitfly found
April 10 2014
There’s a big link between science and keeping New Zealand protected from harmful pests and plants.
The latest biosecurity scare, when a fruitfly was found in Whangarei, demonstrates the need for strong science in New Zealand so we can prevent as many incursions as possible and have solutions if there is a breach.
Unfortunately, science, one of our weapons against biosecurity breaches has taken a beating from the National Government recently. Canterbury’s Lincoln University lost over $3 million in funding for its Bio-Protection Research Centre. Other research centres in the country also missed out.
There are now suggestions the Lincoln scientists might get funding from overseas and start working on other country’s problems, not ours. The centre was formed by New Zealand's leading plant protection scientists.
What the Government has failed to take into account is the important work the scientists do around border security. They are working on solutions that will hit the mark when there is a border risk. Scientists at this centre will be determining reasons behind the fruit fly’s presence in New Zealand, and predicting what we can do in the future.
The Government is playing with fire by not having a pot of funding big enough to retain our valuable scientific work. Vigilance at the border and scientific answers will be our saviours. There are billions of dollars in exports hanging in the balance if we let our defences down.
Every time a plane touches down or when ships and boats tie up at our ports New Zealand’s agriculture and horticulture industries are under threat. Our land, rivers and streams are also vulnerable. An increase in trade and travel has made the risk greater.
In the past we have had many uninvited weeds and pests making New Zealand their home. Millions of dollars have been spent on trying to deal with the Psa threat to kiwifruit and the varroa mite getting into hives. There are many more, including possums, didymo and creeping tropical grasses.
Protection of New Zealand is not something that can be abandoned in the belief that the private sector will fill the gap. Yet the Government gives millions to Warner Bros, Rio Tinto and others, but it can’t find enough for us.
Without government support of science our economy is at risk, and that will affect us all.
New Zealand First is committed to funding research and development and providing the resources needed for bio-security checks, controls and research.
There’s a big link between science and keeping New Zealand protected from harmful pests and plants.
The latest biosecurity scare, when a fruitfly was found in Whangarei, demonstrates the need for strong science in New Zealand so we can prevent as many incursions as possible and have solutions...
There’s a big link between science and keeping New Zealand protected from harmful pests and plants.
The latest biosecurity scare, when a fruitfly was found in Whangarei, demonstrates the need for strong science in New Zealand so we can prevent as many incursions as possible and have solutions if there is a breach.
Unfortunately, science, one of our weapons against biosecurity breaches has taken a beating from the National Government recently. Canterbury’s Lincoln University lost over $3 million in funding for its Bio-Protection Research Centre. Other research centres in the country also missed out.
There are now suggestions the Lincoln scientists might get funding from overseas and start working on other country’s problems, not ours. The centre was formed by New Zealand's leading plant protection scientists.
What the Government has failed to take into account is the important work the scientists do around border security. They are working on solutions that will hit the mark when there is a border risk. Scientists at this centre will be determining reasons behind the fruit fly’s presence in New Zealand, and predicting what we can do in the future.
The Government is playing with fire by not having a pot of funding big enough to retain our valuable scientific work. Vigilance at the border and scientific answers will be our saviours. There are billions of dollars in exports hanging in the balance if we let our defences down.
Every time a plane touches down or when ships and boats tie up at our ports New Zealand’s agriculture and horticulture industries are under threat. Our land, rivers and streams are also vulnerable. An increase in trade and travel has made the risk greater.
In the past we have had many uninvited weeds and pests making New Zealand their home. Millions of dollars have been spent on trying to deal with the Psa threat to kiwifruit and the varroa mite getting into hives. There are many more, including possums, didymo and creeping tropical grasses.
Protection of New Zealand is not something that can be abandoned in the belief that the private sector will fill the gap. Yet the Government gives millions to Warner Bros, Rio Tinto and others, but it can’t find enough for us.
Without government support of science our economy is at risk, and that will affect us all.
New Zealand First is committed to funding research and development and providing the resources needed for bio-security checks, controls and research.
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