10 Sep 2015

Tighter biosecurity measures for cruise ship season

8:05 am on 10 September 2015

Cruise ship passengers will be met by more detector dogs at ports as the Government boosts border control.

As part of efforts to control threats such as fruit-fly invasions, a portable X-ray machine will be used in the North Island to scan hand luggage for fruit and other food.

Ministry for Primary Industries spokesperson Stephanie Rowe passenger numbers were projected to rise and with that would come an increased threat to biosecurity.

She said the risk was higher on ships from Australia and the Pacific Islands.