Seen something unusual?   MAKE A REPORT

Login/Register
Fun Fact

Fun Fact

< Back to Newsroom
06 Jun 23 Biosecurity News

Fun Fact

Talk about expensive apples …..

A few years back American actress Hilary Swank made international headlines when she forgot to declare an apple at Auckland Airport.

She is not alone, according to stats recently pulled together by Biosecurity New Zealand. Between 1 January 2018 and 28 April 2023, officers have issued 7966 infringement notices to travellers for failing to declare apples. The travellers were each fined $400.

The busiest year for apple-related fines in this period was 2018 with 3105 infringement notices. There were only 79 fines in 2021 when international borders were largely closed.

The fines, alongside public awareness activities, send a strong biosecurity message to international travellers about the importance of fruit being diposed or declared. They are a particular fruit fly risk – one of the most unwanted threats to the kiwifruit industry.

SEEN SOMETHING UNUSUAL?

KVH investigates reports of unusual symptoms to identify and manage any biosecurity risks.

Make A report

USE THE WEATHER & DISEASE PORTAL

The KVH portal is now the Zespri Weather & Disease Portal. Access all the weather tools you're familiar with.

Open now