Transcript
New Zealand is one of 183 countries which are party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species or CITES.
The treaty covers over 34,000 species and monitors and regulates trade in endangered species through a system of permits and certificates.
Last month Fijian woman Dali Jobson was forced to surrender a family heirloom called a tabua to the Crown under CITES, after she declared it at Auckland Airport.
The tabua, which is the polished tooth of a sperm whale, is a highly regarded cultural item in Fiji - often passed down through generations.
Ms Jobson claims her family had declared tabua twice before with no problems and was devastated when it was seized.
"I was not aware of the permit process, that were was such a thing that you needed to do before. I mean I wouldn't risk bringing in an item as precious as that ignoring any notice of needing things like that. So I found it quite surprising and, or frustrated really that there wasn't any prior notice, fore-warnings or signs or posters at the Fiji airport." 30 secs
Darryl Lew, the national compliance manager for the Department of Conservation, says more than 100 tabua have been seized at New Zealand borders over the last 15 years because passengers had not obtained the required export permits.
"Sperm whales under the Convention for Trade and Endangered Species are given the highest degree of protection and they're in the same league as those iconic species and animals like Rhino and Elephants." 12secs
Mr Lew says more than 90 per cent of the endangered specimens forfeited to the crown are destroyed, though DOC collected and stored all the seized tabua after an early request from Fiji authorities.
Under the repatriation conditions of CITES, the Department will repatriate more than 100 tabua to Fiji later this year.
But Mr Lew says tabua and turtle shells are not among the most commonly seized items from the Pacific region.
"By far and away, the most seized or surrendered items that we intercept, particularly at Auckland International airport is Coral and shells from the Pacific Islands. Coral is a listed endangered species, the majority of the coral and many of the shells. So my advice to New Zealand families and the kids is don't break the coral off the reefs and even, don't pick it up off the beaches. Chances are, it's not allowed to be brought back into the country." 28secs
Mahendra Keshwan from Fiji Customs Authority in Nadi airport says they are working to raise more awareness around export permits for cultural items being taken out of Fiji.
"We're having a media release, advertisements, even for the travellers there on Fiji Airways sometimes they play (advertisements) all those requirements, what is required of passengers when they want to buy products as such. The Ministry of Information in Fiji is engaged in creating awareness on such items probably with the imports and exports as well." [statement to be voiced]
Darryl Lew says the Department actively supports the Pacific Island countries in raising that awareness.
"We would encourage the Pacific Island Management authority to continue there very good efforts in the islands to carry out their education of the Pacific Islanders and other locals and even visitors to the islands around what can and can't be taken."
Dali Jobson says none of her family were aware of the export permit needed to take a Tabua out of Fiji and she is now warning others about the CITES act.