comment on Horse imports to NZ from Australia

The Facility at Karaka is not new. The 'new' facilty is being developed on a TB stud. whoo hoo, does that give you an idea of when the NON racing equines will get a look in?
What is even more bizarre is that there is a requirement for 5 weeks quarantine for a disease which has an incubation period of 3-10 days. Don't know about you, but I would be prepared to pay for the PCR test which shows the horse has never had, has had and recovered or has been vaccinated for the equine flu.
Of course the nigger in the woodpile is the cohorts of horses which have now been vaccinated but are still capable of contracting the virus, shedding the virus but at a sub clinical level so it is not easily detected except by PCR. The so called 'Quik Fix' which ain't.
The AQIS and BNZ paper shufflers need to get with the new technology and utilise it. Had AQIS done this (as is done in other parts of the world - before the horses are even allowed off the plane) the whole debacle would never have happened. The bone needs to be pointed at other lapses also....

For what it is worth, leave your filly where she is in Oz. Sit it out as if Oz does manage eradication the Q requirements will be amended by 2009.

Connie