Evolving with a low predator count means many of New Zealand's birds are flightless and unafraid of today's imported killers. Sadly predator in question is a long extinct, giant eagle and the kakapo's former defences all but put it on the dinner table for introduced predatory mammals. The stars' voracious appetite and preference for shellfish poses a serious threat to mariculture and wild shellfish fisheries. The establishment of snakes in New Zealand would be disastrous for New Zealand's native wildlife. Our native birds evolved in the absence of snakes and would have few defences against them.
Snakes are a major predator of birds overseas.
Australian snakes when in Australia are, ironically enough, kept in check by bird predators. In New Zealand unaccompanied by anything that can eat them, snakes will not only start to devour the passive bird population but worse still out breed them. Weedy, Weedy World MAF are about to embark on a comprehensive review of container biosecurity regimes thanks to the extra biosecurity funding obtained by New Zealand's Green Party. Bird and Forest recommends suspension of trade with any overseas exporter found to be sending containers with serious potential pests onboard. Snakes coming to New Zealand is just an extreme example of what has been happening to the world's ecosystems ever since humanity decided exploration and colonisation was a good idea.