May 23, 2000
Two upmarket ornamental plants known as grass trees have become the first new organisms to be approved for release in New Zealand since the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act commenced 1998.This decision is also the first to be made under what is known as the rapid assessment process under section 35 of the HSNO Act. Rapid assessments are delegated to the Chief Executive of the Environmental Risk Management Authority.
Hahei Plants, a nursery based at Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsular applied to ERMA New Zealand to import two species of grass tree (Xanthorrhoea johnsonii A. Lee and Xanthorrhoea glauca Bedford) from Australia. The grass trees are being imported for use for interior or landscape design and will only suit interior or semi interior spaces. According to Hahei Plants , the grass trees are slow growing but over time can grow to up to 1.8 m in height and are noted for their striking colour and form There are already some other species available in New Zealand.
ERMA New Zealand was able to apply the ?rapid assessment? process to this application because of the nature of the species and in particular because they were not regarded as a weedy plant that could later cause problems. The grass trees occur naturally in sub tropical parts of Australia and would not survive in the much wetter and colder New Zealand outdoor climate.
ERMA New Zealand Chief Executive Dr Bas Walker says section 35 of the HSNO Act which provides for the rapid assessment of an application, sets very strict criteria on which to base a decision. He says in addition to the issues of weediness, in this case, account was taken of the slow growing nature of the grass trees, the fact that they have no persistent seed bank, and would be easy to detect and eradicate in the very unlikely event that a wild population became established. He says in addition to the information provided by the applicant, two independent weed assessment reports which confirmed that weediness would not be an issue were also provided.
The Environmental Risk Management Authority is responsible for controlling the introduction of new organisms and genetically modified organisms into New Zealand and the importation and manufacture hazardous substances.
For further information contact:
| Bas Walker Chief Executive Ph (04) 473-8426 |
Peter Burke Public Awareness Advisor Ph (04) 473-8426 |