IN OUR ROOM

down and ban trade in all wildlife unless countries can affirmatively demonstrate that such trade will not contribute to further species decline, loss of diversity, and ecosystem collapse.’’

Department of Conservation national compliance manager Marta Lang Silveira said some of the imports of elephant specimens into New Zealand were for forensic purposes, using carbon-dating laboratories to determine if specimens were killed prior to CITES coming into force.

Last week, African Wildlife Foundation chief executive Kaddu Sebunya called out New Zealand for continuing to allow ivory to be imported.

Sebunya said high prices for carved ivory in auction houses

and antique shops in New Zealand was fuelling demand.

Between 2013 and 2017, there were 176 legal elephant ivory imports into New Zealand, and 33 illegal seizures or surrenders. They included a tea caddie, three pianos, wooden elephants with ivory, and a dominos set.

Over the same period, there were three seizures of rhino horn (totalling seven packets of medicine) and two legal imports.

Sage said she had received assurances that New Zealand’s domestic legislation, the Trade in Endangered Species Act or TIES Act, was consistent with the CITES act.

She pointed to a piano imported from the UK without proper authorisation having its ivory keys removed as an example of New Zealand’s strict enforcement of the act.

‘‘I have asked the Department of Conservation to provide advice on whether law changes are needed to strengthen the TIES Act and make any changes in relation to ivory. I am considering that advice.’’

Some of the approved imports were for big game-hunter trophies in Africa; zebra hides from Botswana, wildebeest from South Africa. There were six lion products listed.

A polar bear rug from Norway, and a polar bear skin from the US were also among the imports, as were all kinds of whales, snakes and bears.