Hon Jim Anderton

Member of Parliament for Wigram
Progressive Leader

Job Cuts And The Hadda Beetle

“Last year the government cut at least 54 frontline jobs in biosecurity. This year a small beetle enters New Zealand, and threatens the potato and tomato industries. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see the link here,” says MP for Wigram and leader of the Progressive Party, Jim Anderton.

At the time, Jim Anderton warned that cuts to staff responsible for preventing diseases and pests from entering New Zealand was false economy and left our borders vulnerable.

Pest like the Hadda Beetle found in Auckland recently can cause serious damage to local farming and horticulture industries.

“The government’s justification for getting rid of these staff last year was that trade and passenger numbers were in decline. It’s true, there has been a decline in the last quarter, but the long term trend over ten years, is definitely up.”

The value of imports per quarter in 1999 for example was just over $6 billion. Now, even with the recent decline, it is about $11 billion. Total monthly arrivals were approximately 240,000 in 1999 and with the recent decline, still remain at about 360,000 per month.

“Trying to save money by playing Russian Roulette on the New Zealand border is worse than false economy; it’s putting our economy at serious risk.”

The Hadda Beetle was found in Auckland’s Dove-Myer Robinson Park and the Auckland Domain.

MAF have reassured farmers and horticulturists, including Kiwifruit, avocado and aubergines growers, that the pests are no longer a threat and have been dealt with.

“The government might have got away with it this time. I hope so for the sake of those farmers. But with 54 less staff at the borders looking out for pests, it’s only a matter of time before we have another incursion.

“Prevention is better than cure. Keep the money and the jobs in biosecurity to stop pests getting in. Then you don’t have to spend more money on trying to eliminate them once they’re here.”

ENDS

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