Preventing the “doomsday disease”
Following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Indonesia, the government is introducing extra measures to ensure it doesn’t reach New Zealand
Mōrena and welcome to The Bulletin for Tuesday, July 26, by Anna Rawhiti-Connell. Presented in partnership with Z Energy.
In today’s edition: Chlöe Swarbrick rules out running for Greens co-leader; Labour and National Party donations case starts today; signs this winter is stormier than usual; but first, everything being done to stop a foot and mouth outbreak.
A cow walks past a tourist villa in Bali (Photo: RNZ/Supplied: Ross Ainsworth)
A “doomsday disease” for the farming sector
It’s been 21 years since over 6 million pigs, cows and sheep were destroyed in the United Kingdom following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD). Bill Sykes, a former vet in the Victorian agriculture department flew to the UK to help contain the outbreak in 2001 and recalls the toll it took. It’s estimated the outbreak cost the UK $21b (NZD). Yesterday agriculture and biosecurity minister Damien O’Connor described FMD as a “doomsday disease” for the New Zealand farming sector. To be clear, we have never had an outbreak here but prevention measures are being stepped up after an outbreak in Indonesia, including in the popular tourist destination of Bali.
Treasury data estimates FMD outbreak could result in lost earnings of $15b
During yesterday’s post-cabinet press conference O’Connor pointed to New Zealand’s already extremely stringent biosecurity procedures. He also outlined the extra measures being taken, including the introduction of disinfecting foot mats for arrivals from Indonesia, an awareness campaign targeting travellers before they go to Indonesia, an audit of the palm kernel supply chain in Indonesia, and providing resources to Indonesia to help them deal with the disease. There is also a ban on travellers bringing in any meat from Indonesia and an FMD readiness task force being set up. Treasury data from 2018 shows a six month outbreak of FMD in the North Island could result in lost export earnings of $15b.
Calls to stop flights between Indonesia and Australia
New Zealand does not have direct flights with Indonesia but Australia does, and there have been calls there to stop flights between the two countries. This has been ruled out by the government, who have cited Australia's $17b-a-year trading relationship with Indonesia and that there are outbreaks of the disease in 70 other countries. Australia is introducing further measures and 100% of all incoming parcels from Indonesia and China (where FMD is also present) will now be screened. The increased risk of FMD is also prompting farmers in Australia to consider freezing cattle sperm and eggs to protect bloodlines.
First outbreak in 37 years in Indonesia causing “mayhem”
Since May, more than 400,000 cases have been recorded across 23 provinces in Indonesia. The Indonesian government has opted against widespread culling due to concerns about insufficient funds to compensate farmers for lost livestock. There are also concerns the outbreak may impact the tourism industry in Indonesia which is only just recovering from pandemic border closures and travel restrictions. RNZ’s A Country Life recently spoke to a vet based in Indonesia who said it had caused "absolute mayhem" on the bigger islands in Indonesia, Java and Sumatra.
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Chlöe Swarbrick rules out running for co-leader of the Green Party
Sounding a death knell for any further speculation and punditry, Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick ruled out standing for co-leader of the Green Party yesterday afternoon. Swarbrick thanked “all of the lovely and kind people who’ve expressed their confidence” in her. Meanwhile fellow Green MP Elizabeth Kerekere has said she is considering her options and will make an announcement after today’s caucus meeting. The Herald’s Thomas Coughlan has an in depth background (paywalled) on the vote that saw James Shaw, possibly temporarily, lose his role as co-leader. Coughlan writes that it was the culmination of votes from the Young Greens and the Green Left Network, though not in concert, that pushed the vote over the 25% threshold.
Trial of accused in connection with Labour and National Party donations starts today
The trial was meant to start yesterday but was adjourned. Three of the accused are seeking continued name suppression, while another three who have been named, are also charged in connection to National Party donations in 2020. Both cases will be heard together in a judge-alone trial. After questions from the press gallery yesterday about last week’s High Court acquittal of two individuals connected with the NZ First Foundation, prime minister Jacinda Ardern indicated that parliament may seek to close loopholes that breach the “spirit” of the law. Ardern stressed she was speaking in general terms and not about any specific case. Ardern also said there wasn’t enough time to close the loophole before the 2023 election.
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Writer, and the rest of us, question whether it’s stormier than usual?
I wrote the Bulletin this morning in the dark - uncaffeinated and hotspotting data off my phone on the absolute last fumes of the household laptop batteries. There was a power outage where I live which I am assuming had something to do with last night’s high winds so I am keenly interested in the weather again. Stuff’s Chris Hyde has spoken to meteorologists to try and answer the question many of us will be asking: is this winter stormier than usual? It’s not straightforward but there are a few things that stick out for the experts. Atmospheric pressure has been lower this year than over the last three years. We’ve experienced back-to-back months of above average rainfall and the intensity and breadth of storms has been notable.
Click and collect
Former Reserve Bank governor criticises central banks' performance during pandemic.
New Zealander first person to test out ‘revolutionary’ US cholesterol fix.
Calls to send government’s stats and data bill back for a rethink from transparency and civil liberties bodies.
New online safety code (included in yesterday’s Bulletin) lambasted as “window dressing”
Rates increase for 27,000 property owners in Wellington almost double the average increase.
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The Greens' current leadership tumult is 50 years in the making, according to one former MP. Gareth Hughes says James Shaw’s current predicament is a reflection of the party’s uneasy relationship with the very concept of leadership. Bernard Hickey wonders how can we get the companies that benefited from billions in Covid wage subsidies only to post huge annual profits to hand some of their unearned windfall back to taxpayers. Terry Baucher says a major new investigation into Uber shines a light on how much it costs us, both socially and economically. Tara Ward watches the return of New Zealand's most oddly wonderful TV show, The Masked Singer NZ.
Legal action being taken against World Rugby over brain injuries
More than 100 former rugby players are taking legal action against World Rugby over what they say was a failure to protect them from permanent injury caused by repeated concussions during their careers. Former All Black Carl Hayman is among them. Hayman spoke to Dylan Cleaver in November last year about the impacts of his early-onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) diagnosis. The law firm representing the players has issued a statement saying “This claim isn’t just about financial compensation. It is also about making the game safer and ensuring current and former players get tested so that if they are suffering a brain injury they can get the clinical help they need.”
Investigation into church donations
The feature read for today is an ongoing investigation from Ruth Hill at RNZ and investigative journalist Nicky Hager into the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (formerly the Exclusive Brethren). Former members of the church are calling for it to be stripped of its charitable status and have confirmed how Brethren were routinely directed to smuggle large sums of cash across international borders to avoid customs regulations.
