Submitted by Michael McClosky on the 2017 winter session program in New Zealand sponsored by the Department of Computer and Information Sciences…
I was greeted to an unusual sight upon first arriving in New Zealand. In the Auckland airport, after passing through the passport check, we entered the very long line for customs. Now, I haven’t done much travelling, but I imagine the signs that are ordinary fare in the Auckland customs line are rather out of the ordinary.
Every ten feet down the line, there were signs for some of the items that were not allowed in the country; things like apples, nuts and shoes that have been used on farmland. There were posters warning travelers to check their luggage for certain insects. Not your usual border patrol check.
Due to its isolation, New Zealand has a very delicate ecosystem. The introduction of ferrets and rabbits rocked part of the native animal population, leading to government efforts to cut back on the population for these imported species. Shoes that were used on farmland are required to be cleaned to prevent any foreign livestock diseases from reaching the island.
The amount of biodiversity in the plant life of the nation is astounding. The foothills of the Southern Alps seem more like Scotland than an island in the Pacific, while the coastal areas look shockingly similar to Hawaii. It’s no wonder many of the most popular tourist attractions in the country are run by the Department of Conservation.
It’s refreshing to see a country take so much pride in their biodiversity, and take so much care in protecting it. Hopefully more countries will begin to follow suit.
