Lawmakers and state workers returned from a five-day tour of New Zealand’s biosecurity facilities armed with lessons on strengthening Hawaii’s defense against beetles and ants. A delegation of Hawaii lawmakers and officials recently returned from a more than $50,000 visit to New Zealand seeking ways the state could better shield itself from invasive species – advice it failed to heed almost two decades ago. The South Pacific nation had originally offered suggestions during a similar trip in 2006, but it it was not until this year that Hawaii invested millions of dollars into biosecurity to battle swarms of fire ants and coconut rhinoceros beetles.
That investment follows months of public outcry over the inaction and inability to contain the pests, which threaten to irreversibly harm the environment and economy. Over five days, 17 people – five legislators and representatives of four state departments – visited New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, and its largest city, Auckland, to tour ports, airports and biosecurity facilities. New Zealand is recognized worldwide for its biosecurity program, one started more than 30 years ago.
The country’s multi-layered program – with a budget of about NZ$418 million ($260 million in U.S. dollars) – begins off the country’s shores and includes the borders, mail centers and ports, as well as detection, response and management of pests in the country.
New Zealand has a minister of biosecurity, a cabinet-level position. The c.