Ewen-Street Ian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Ewen-Street Ian: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:613;Page:10235] 
11.  
IAN EWEN-STREET (Green) 
 to the  
Minister for Biosecurity 
: Why did the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry decide it could not eradicate post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome found at three North Island pig farms when expert epidemiologists and veterinarians have advised the Pork Industry Board that there is a 50 percent chance of containing and possibly eradicating the disease? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Associate Minister of Agriculture) 
 on behalf of the  
Minister for Biosecurity 
: No expert in New Zealand or overseas can identify exactly what causes this disease how to contain the disease or indeed how to eradicate it. Depopulating of farms has not worked overseas and no one knows how long to keep the farms depopulated to beat the disease. That is why taxpayers’ money is not being spent on an eradication attempt at this time. 
Ian Ewen-Street 
: Exactly what has the ministry done to identify and close the loophole that has led to this latest major breach of our biosecurity system? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: There is no loophole in our biosecurity system. The virus that causes this disease is endemic throughout New Zealand. There has been considerable research throughout the world to try to identify what triggers the onset of the disease. That has not yet been discovered but this Government will work with experts in New Zealand and throughout the world to try to identify and deal with this problem. 
Janet Mackey 
: What support is the Government giving the pork industry in the wake of the discovery of this disease? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: The pork industry has decided to attempt its own containment of the disease. This is being supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry which is instituting movement controls between the North Island and the South Island as well as funding ongoing surveillance and research to try to manage and ultimately eradicate this disease. The ministry is also funding an active surveillance programme in the South Island. 
Shane Ardern 
: Will the Minister now withdraw his statement that New Zealand has the best biosecurity systems in the world and confess to the public of New Zealand that his Government has failed in respect of its biosecurity policy is gambling with New Zealand’s economic future and now appears to not be able to attempt eradication? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: No we will not change our statement because we do have one of the best biosecurity systems in the world. This Government has committed considerable funds to the area of biosecurity—in fact $50 million more than the previous Government. We introduced instant fines for biosecurity breaches purchased soft-tissue X-rays for every international airport and hired extra quarantine staff and detector dogs. We have had to do a lot in the area of biosecurity because the previous Government failed to maintain biosecurity protection for New Zealand. 
Larry Baldock 
: Where is the consistency of approach by the Government when it commits to spending $90 million to eradicate the painted apple moth in west Auckland with not much more than a 50 percent chance of success yet will not spend a cent to help the pig farmers to eradicate this disease and perhaps the Government might consider spending that money on research which the Minister said is so desperately needed? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: The problem is that nowhere in the world has eradication been carried out. Considerable research is going on to try to find out what triggers the disease. Spending taxpayers’ money when we have no idea what causes the disease could be a considerable waste of time and effort. 
Ian Ewen-Street 
: As the infected farms are not breeding units hence the chances of further contamination are believed to be minimal will the Minister now instruct ministry officials to attempt to eradicate the disease; if not why not? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: Officials are always focused on attempted eradication. The way we go about that depends on the science and information available. At this time ministry officials are working with pig farmers to try to ensure they run the best hygiene systems on their farms to prevent any further infestation within New Zealand. 
Ian Ewen-Street 
: Can the Minister confirm that all three outbreaks of the post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome have occurred on factory pig farms where the crowded and stressful conditions for the pigs inevitably contribute to the spread of such diseases; if so what is he doing to improve the conditions on factory pig farms? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I cannot confirm that. I know that the farm where this disease was first discovered had been having ongoing health problems for 12 months and ministry officials had been working with them to try to deal with those problems. We will do everything possible in working with the pig industry to try to deal with the problem. It is not restricted to any particular type of pig farm and as I say we will work with them to try to deal with the problem.