KVH recently visited Tauranga companies to learn more about the processes they go through when moving containers from ship to wharf and to packhouses and return, and to emphasise the importance of biosecurity to the kiwifruit industry.

Operations and Compliance officer, John Mather, says the process of inspection and cleaning at the Port of Tauranga and associated container handling companies is very thorough, and it is heartening to see best-practice undertaken.

“The operating procedures and general biosecurity knowledge of staff is impressive, and they are particularly interested in how they can help with the work KVH is doing to manage the potential risk to kiwifruit posed by a range of harmful organisms. There is a real sense that we can keep working as one team to protect New Zealand from potential incursions.”

KVH also continues to encourage post-harvest companies to be vigilant for any contamination or undetected hitchhiker pests on or within sea containers when they are moved to or from sites, as the more eyes looking out for the unusual or potentially harmful, the better.