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Targeting Independent Travellers
Sat, 10/03/2007 - 18:03 — Admin
Now that most New Zealanders are back to work the main risk is posed by the large numbers of independent travellers visiting the country. Targeting these travellers has been a challenge.
Employing contract workers at the Wellington ferry terminal has enabled us to get the message out to travellers before they get to the South Island. It has also produced some alarming statistics:
- More than 50% of travellers currently crossing to the South island are from overseas
- Of these, most have not yet heard of Didymo
- A significant proportion of travellers return to the North Island before leaving the country, thus increasing the evident risk.
We are currently trying to raise the awareness of travellers before they reach New Zealand. Some work has been undertaken posting Didymo information on the Lonely Planet, Lets Go and Rough Guide web pages. In addition we have made this information available to BNZ who are to approach the major producers of New Zealand travel guides to incorporate biosecurity information.
Comments
Visitors to the Taupo region
We recently travelled up from the Wairarapa and spent ten days on the Tongriro, Hinemaia and Waitahanui. Our gear had been well dried and sprayed before we came up. We are very concious of Didymo and treated our gear at our motel after fishing the Tongariro and before moving north. However, it occurred to me that more emphasis could perhaps be placed upon treating your gear BEFORE you commence fishing in the Taupo region rather than afterwards. To treat it afterwards would seem to be closing the door after the horse has bolted. On discussing it in a fishing shop I was encouraged to write and convey my suggestion to you.
Cheers
Alan Sadler
Visitors to the Taupo region
Hi Alan,
Thanks for your comment. We want to encourage people to clean their gear wherever they are after ever use so that its clean and dry for next time. Cleaning needs to happen in case didymo is in the river that is being fished but has not been detected so that they don't spread it elsewhere. Its great that you were given the didymo message and are cleaning your gear.
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