The plant police

People who deliberately try to avoid detection often falsely declare plants and seeds as gifts or toys.

Every year, Biosecurity NZ's (BNZ) Incursion Investigation Plant Health Team looks at instances of incorrectly or illegally imported seeds and plants.

Suspicious cases are called into its exotic disease & pest emergency hotline (0800 80 99 66) by:

• concerned individuals who see suspect listings on TradeMe or Facebook;

• nurseries;

• plant scientists.

In the last few years, investigators have seen a huge rise in incorrectly labelled plants and seeds purchased online that don't meet import requirements. There have also been more successful seed and plant interceptions at the border by the International Mail Centre.