Date : December 2002

“Declare it – don’t get fined” is the main message behind the quarantine media campaign launch being held today, 3^rd December, 2002, at 3pm at SPC, Nabua. 

The media campaign targets travellers to New Zealand with specific messages to raise awareness and encourage people to act responsibly on pest and disease issues. This is intended to reduce the incidences of undeclared high risk items being brought into New Zealand, to increase the number of items that are declared as well as increasing the number of reported biosecurity risks that are discovered in New Zealand. 

The media messages will help promote to Pacific island travellers a clear link between travelling with risk items, that may be harbouring pests and diseases, and the likely impact on the cultural, economic, and environmental wealth of the Pacific region.

The central theme of this initiative is to create a strong sense of individual quarantine responsibility for keeping pests and diseases out of the Pacific and New Zealand.

The month of December is one of the busiest travelling periods of the year particularly for Pacific islanders visiting New Zealand and the campaign messages are being launched this time to get maximum impact.

Radio messages on quarantine are now aired over Bula 100 FM and Radio Fiji. There are also printed advertisements in the local newspapers Fiji Times and Daily Post. The radio and print advertisements will run up until mid-January 2003.

“If you don’t declare risk goods correctly when you arrive in New Zealand you will receive an instant fine of NZ$200” is one of messages being promoted in the media campaign.  All luggage are now X-rayed on arrival so, to be on the safe side, you now have to declare any item you bring in to New Zealand – fine mats, cricket bats, shell necklaces, umu packs, all seafood, kava powder, handicraft, etc. But don’t worry, most items will be inspected and given back to you right away. 

Sporting equipment such as golf clubs and golf bags, hunting boots, running shoes are all now required to be declared.

If goods need to be treated, you will have to pay the cost. You can collect treated items yourself, or they can be sent to you at your own cost.

The official launch program starts at 3pm at Nabua, SPC Headquarters. Dr. Jimmie Rodgers, SPC’s Senior Deputy Director General will welcome guests.

Ms. Adrienne Tollemache of New Zealand MAF Biosecurity Authority is travelling with Mr. Neville Moore, Group Leader, Auckland Port, New Zealand MAF Quarantine Service and both will be at the launch to provide more information on the media campaign.  New Zealand MAF Biosecurity is concerned with biosecurity in New Zealand. Their “Protect New Zealand” campaign, which was launched in September 2001, aims to inform people about biosecurity and ways in which they can help protect New Zealand against unwanted pests and diseases.

Media kits, posters and brochures will also be given out to invited guests from the Ministry of Health, Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority, Department of Immigration, Fiji Visitors Bureau, South Pacific Tourism Organisation, Fiji Trade and Investment Bureau, the New Zealand High Commission Office, members from the private sector and representatives from each of the local media.

The launching is a joint collaborative effort between New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Quarantine Service, SPC’s Plant Protection Service and Fiji Quarantine and Inspection Service. The wider objective for this campaign is to get the quarantine message to people living in Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga and Fiji who travel both between the various Pacific islands and from the Pacific to New Zealand. In particular, the programme will target high frequency business and diplomatic travellers.

Similar launches were successfully carried out for Samoa and Tonga this past week.