BK

But David that just shows we should ban all imports of every thing including fish, say guppies, livebearers, catfish where should we stop.

Charlie I think you will find they don't have the time or money to spend on the approval process of the permits so don’t consider them. There is a process in place but no guarantee that they will actually review them. I have the paper work but was told this straight off. There has been a lot of work done over the years but they're not interested at look into this.

http://www.keaconservation.co.nz/keares ... t-projects For those poeple that want to help.

David there are a number of zoos putting pressure on now for the importation of parrots but for some reason there is a lot of resistance. It will be interesting what the results of the Kea survey is as they state that lead nails could be killing a lot of Kea in the mountains, I don't think any one knows but would have a guess its pest like rats and ferrets.

David it is an important issue but if we have blanket bands on one thing why don’t we have these across the board. What is stopping them from banning the importation of fish?

Conch I think you will find they don't have the time or money to spend on the approval process of the permits so don’t consider them. There is a process in place but no guarantee that they will actually review them. I have the paper work but was told this straight off.

kokaka sorry but I can’t give names out as it would not be fair on those people that inform me in confidence. I agree there is a lot of good work being done by MAF and DOC and border control but there is also some dumb laws that are in place. They want to stop any one keeping and breeding Kea when it is thought that there number are decreasing? It just doesn’t make since. I’m sure if you went to Case and talked to the people there you would get the full run down on the Kea. There are other things that never get reported in the news that would really shock people.

I'm still waiting on the facts why GW Macaws shouldn't be imported. And as a point I was in Ozzie last month talking with the main people evolved with protecting the RT Black Cockatoos so I have more knowledge about these issues than most of you that is why I only deal with fact. I will also be visiting the Kakapo breeding program this coming summer as well. So again It’s better to make you own mind up with facts rather than what you have been told.

May be they might make a better decision if they base it on fact rather than feeling. What would your thoughts be in a ban on keeping all exotic animals? Or is it not a concern to you because you’re not interested in them. I want to protect NZ birds as will but can’t see how importing birds that aren't a risk is banned. I would also like to breed RC Kakariki for release but because the people at DOC aren’t interested they will becomes extinct as will in the SI soon. I hope I see you people out counting the Kea numbers but then again most of you will just sit back on your high horses.

FF buy the way DOC poisoned the Kea at the Arthur’s pass dump as they didn't like the tour buses turning up there to see the Kea on the rubbish tip. That is where the 2 that where nailed to the road sign came from as people where real pissed off that they could kill our native animals. So yes Doc do poison Kea and yes 1080 does kill other native NZ birds so you are wrong in your statement get your facts right.

Vinson I'm not talking about the illegal wildlife trade but animals that have been domestic bred. Much like taking your cat to Ozzie if you move. The last thing I would like to see are parrots being wild caught and shipped around the world but still this is not the main reason that parrots are becoming extinct, think about where that hardwood outdoor furniture came from.

You can then use that same argument about p for alcohol and tobacco when neither is good for NZ but they are continued to be allowed by law. The point I'm trying to make is that I want to import parrots that are worth between $5k and $20k and if they can be proven to be free of disease why shouldn't we be allowed to import these when there are already some in the country. I can't ever see these being released and if some do get free I don't think that there would be the numbers to breed. The gene pool for some parrots is very small in NZ and with out new blood lines they will cease to remain in NZ. This would be a loss to NZ and the world of genetic lines already here. There are cases of Macaws being gift back to the Brazil government as they are the only ones left. The Moluccan Cockatoo will become extinct in the wild due to logging and land clearance so any and all birds are very important The current laws only benefit those people willing to brake them while the people who abide by them are still at risk from disease from smuggled birds, you just can't stick your head in the sand and think its going to go away. Probation doesn't work, While the use of P in NZ is a concern people will still use it, it won't go away so the law is a waste of time and only benefits those willing to brake it and make money. If some one can come up with a reason why Green wing Macaws can't be imported in NZ please state them. Before anyone starts bring up the same old reason I’ll state some replies. All birds will have to clear Quarantine. Only Domestic bred breeds from reliable sources (ie Ozzie). I doubt that people would release birds worth $10k and if they did it would have to have a mate so almost impossible to breed in the wild. Have a think about it why shouldn't they be imported.

For some reason I can't posy M A F I A it keeps on coming up MAF. No its not a joke.

But not allowing importing of parrots just makes it worth more to smuggle with no controls. Ever read about how the Mafia got started in the States. Things will happen if you like it or not so it’s best to try and have some controls. I'm sure that 1080 hasn't fully been test for secondly poison, I think there was a case where 1080 was drop at Farewell spit as there was some kind of birds that were under pressure and the end result is that they where poisoned by 1080. FF the point you are making is that no exotic animals should be allowed in NZ is that correct? PBFD is in NZ but there is no way of knowing how it got here, could be birds blown over from Ozzie like the first parrots in NZ. You seem to make the point that you are 100% correct but every thing else is hit and miss. The cost of importing parrots will be very high so doubt that they will be released and if someone did how many would bred or are you just trying to scare people into thinking the same as you do. Balance is a good thing. Maybe we ought to start getting rid of the biggest killers first? Dogs and cats then we can start on cows and sheep, don’t forget pigs and goats. Aren’t horses also running wild? I’m not saying that we should open our borders just that there needs balance. From the general comments on here I think most of you don’t want fish imported any more because they could get out and you never know what is going to happen. Can any of you say that you have no exotic animals or have you decided that they are ok but no one else can have thing else.

I think your missing the point conch, I think 99.9999% of the people in NZ are proud of these little Islands but would like to be able to work with MAF/DOC to insure the best outcomes for NZ rather than being lied to about what is good for NZ when a lot of the time we know the truth. I'm 100% for banning any thing that will effect NZ badly but government departments seem to take the easy options. Like the police focusing on catching people speeding rather than other crime when the police tell us there’s not enough time in the day to do every thing but always have the time to write out tickets. There needs to be balance. While some plants aren’t good for NZ I’m sure there are some that will be fine. Would it help if the government was in for longer than 3 years as it current works first year in get use to things do some things in the second year and the third year work on getting elected again. The post was started buy some one for the states who has some really nice looking tanks, I think they are in power for 5 years over there, how does this work? Do you think more gets done on average (don’t just base this on Bush)?

Whetu is that why we have bee mite, sea squirt etc as they are doing such a good job. The reason why most things are banned is because they think that they should be and don't have to back this up with fact. I’d like to import parrots but they are banned, there is not one reason why domestic bred parrots that have been through a quarantine system can't be imported but they are still banned. If there where good reasons why things are banned may be people wouldn't be so pissed off. NZ is not as green as you think, the Kea’s numbers are reducing which is a concern, but this doesn’t stop DOC from poison them or dropping 1080. Tropical fish are tropical because they can’t live in cold water but some are still banned but you can still bred goldfish? If the laws of the land reflected what the facts are more people would buy into them and there would be more support for those people that enforced them. The only reason why there are not more people caught smuggling things into NZ is because people now that the laws are not right and in turn do not support the people that enforce the laws. So I have to disagree with your post.

Where’s the aviaries. Nice ponds, makes mine look like a cup of tea.

Thanks Caryl but I might try Furan as I have another tank with a small amount in it as well and with Allan saying that he's lost fish using erythromycin don't want to take the chance with Discus. Had 3 other tanks with this in also but strip them bare and move the good plants to this one tank and bleached the others. Then I moved a pair of Panduros and Gold rams into the other tanks which have both spawned. Guppies went in first to check if they where ok to use so apart from righting of my car on Tuesday this weeks been pretty good.

Should say that I have PP but none of that stuff eyromysin or how ever you spell it.

Cleaned out a tank of all fish and have a small amount of B/G on the plants. What can I treat this with??

Bring the ph down.

Thought it related to the piece of wood in the tank.

CRT farming supply store.

Red pine is just an old term. Usually only used by people over 50 most people just call it Rimu now. Much like Black pine.

Went on holiday with girlfriend before we starting keeping birds and she said that we should go to the bird park. I laugh and made a joke about Anoka’s and MMs, think rimmed glass etc. Now the jokes on me if I had more time and cash it would be like a zoo at home. Next year hope to go to S America to see the clay licks etc but depends on getting someone to look after our house parrots. The amount of times I've gone down to the shops with a good load on my back is just a joke, usually only notice it when you see it all over the car seat when u get home.