HortNews
	Varroa Spread Into South Island Inevitable

WELLINGTON 6/9/2002 - Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton believes it is inevitable the varroa bee mite will enter the South Island.

The mite was first discovered in South Auckland in April 2000 but has since spread throughout the North Island, reaching the Wellington region late last month.

Today Mr Sutton said he expected the spread to continue. "I believe it is inevitable that the varroa mite will at some time in the future get to the South Island," he said.

The Government had provided more than $1 million for research on protecting hives and the $50m honey industry but eradication was impossible, Mr Sutton said.

The cost of its continued spread was "considerable" but he could not be more specific. Asked how it compared with the cost of eradication, Mr Sutton said the two could not be compared as the latter was not feasible.

"By the time the industry and the Government knew the varroa bee mite was in New Zealand it was technically impossible to eradicate," he said.

Mr Sutton was satisfied the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's quarantine and biosecurity personnel were doing a good job and that New Zealand had the best biosecurity controls on our border of any country in the world.