Kiwis try to be safer than sorry in mite search

Although it is looking increasingly like a cross-contamination cock-up has caused the varroa scare in the South Island New Zealand, its Ministry Of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) is extending its search for the mite:

“Although we cannot discount the possibility of cross-contamination of samples from Murchison, ignoring the possibility that there is a genuine infestation in the South Island is a risk we are not prepared to take”, said MAF varroa programme co-ordinator Paul Bolger

Beekeepers Industry Group Canterbury branch chairman Tony Scott agrees that is is better to be safe than sorry.