Representatives from KVH met with Prime Minister John Key yesterday when he visited the kiwifruit industry as part of a day-long visit to the Bay of Plenty.

KVH took the brief opportunity to talk to Mr Key about KVH’s recent areas of focus including the industry’s participation in the Queensland fruit fly response in Auckland, raising public awareness of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) and our role in Government Industry Agreements. Mr Key was particularly interested in the BMSB and its impact on primary industries should it establish in New Zealand.

Mr Key spoke to a crowd of around 200 industry people and acknowledged the biosecurity challenges New Zealand faces as a small trading country and the many ways biosecurity risks can come into New Zealand.

During the visit Mr Key also paid tribute to kiwifruit industry for its ability to recover in the wake of Psa-V.

Lara Harrison, KVH Communications