Adventures with Deadheader

[leweee]

A question for the kiwi's;
    Are the two islands of New Zealand still snake free?

[Ianab]

Yes... 

Mostly thanks to the border patrol folks who will come down like a ton of bricks on anyone they catch trying to bring something like that in. Not to say we dont have out fair share of imported pests, but nothing too dangerous yet 

Ian

[KiwiCharlie]

Hi leweee,
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry spend a good deal of time inspecting/fumigating shipping containers that arrive here, as this is where they sometimes find snakes etc.  Being so far from the rest of the world, container movements into NZ are huge.
There is a massive amount of effort put into border patrol like this, as being that agriculture is such a large part of our exports, any nasties that could threaten that are a major hazard.  At the int airports, they have Beagles that sniff out fruit in peoples bags etc.  Instant $200 fine for having even 1 peice of fruit on you entering the country.  There are many verbal and written warnings prior to landing here etc, so people should know in time.
I dont know if NZ has the best climate for snakes as well, so that could help us.
Cheers
Charlie.

[Ernie]

Go ahead, Charlie, admit it, NZ has the best climate for anything.  Not too hot, not too cold, mostly not too wet and not too dry, at least here in Taranaki.  Snakes would thrive any imported animal thrives here, look at deer, rabbits, possums etc.. I'm just glad that no one imported foxes like they did in Aussie.

Ernie

[leweee]

Thanks Guys......when I was there in 77 inspections were a big deal at the airport.....more than any other country at that time. It obviously has worked.

[LIL]

Hi Leewee

Was having a surf today and come across this - thought you might be interested

AIRPORT BUST: Hilary Swank has been caught bringing an apple and an orange into NZ - but the Hollywood star is contesting the fine. People who bring fruit and other biosecurity risks into New Zealand without declaring them are automatically fine $200. "It's a pretty standard partice to issue an instant fine for a biosecurity risk and she got done." (Note spelling mistakes - theirs not MINE      )

[Minnesota_boy]

Lil,
I hope your people fight this lawsuit and win, and keep on winning.  Here in my part of the US, we have several nasty pests that have been brought in by well meaning people years past and we'll have to keep fighting them for centuries and will most likely still lose.  Other parts of the US have the same problem.  Have you ever heard of kudzu?  Don't ever let that in! 

[Swede]

Corley, Thank You for some nice pictues of the nature there and Homey. Yes, nice pics of Harold too! I want to do such a trip but have too much to do here and still poor. Takes some SEK. to start a sawmill business. One customer called me for sawing 20 logs, there was more than 110 on the yard and came 40-50 more last week. Sawed a spruce 30"/33" x 16' last tuesday, had to use the chainsaw some.

Fla._D. What brand are Homey´s engine? Looks a little like my Vanguard 18hp. Is it the same? How many hours  has it run?

My girlfriend has some photos from where I´m sawing now in her cellphone, hope to find time to get them into my computer soon.

Swede.

[Fla._Deadheader]

  Hi Swede.
 
  Dig deep in your pockets and drag out some of them SEK's and come on over here. It's only going to get moldy in your wallet. 

  That's a Honda 24HP Engine. Has maybe 600-700 hours on it ?

  Best engine I have ever owned.