Saturday, March 30, 2024

LETTER: Praise surprises

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I was somewhat surprised at Alan Emerson’s praise of Biosecurity Minister Nathan Guy (FW, September 12).
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I have recent information from individuals regarding the Ministry for Primary Industries’ management of three major biosecurity incursions.

MPI management of pea weevil in Wairarapa has not resulted in the destruction of pea straw and other material that might host the continuation of pea weevil.

The fact the MPI testing systems failed to identify the imported pea weevil in the first place is a shocking failure of biosecurity capability.

The ongoing management of black grass in Canterbury underestimates the ongoing threat and offers no security to grain farmers in the region who keep getting false reassurances from MPI.

The other major challenge, of velvetleaf in fodder beet crops, is still a threat and the scope of contamination is unclear.

If Emerson considers the management of these three major incursions adequate then he needs to open both eyes and listen to a few farmers whose livelihoods are under threat from these biosecurity failures.

The minister’s track record is far from adequate or worthy of praise.

Damien O’Connor

West Coast-Tasman MP

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