Agriculture Manager for the Island of Penrhyn, Ngereteina George and Rarotonga staff Natana Mataio received their warrants as biosecurity officers on Tuesday.

The warrant enables them to perform their duties as Biosecurity Officers at the port of entry or perform border operations for international yachts and monitor the movement of plants or cargo to and from Rarotonga to the pa enua through ships or planes.

Director for Biosecurity Division, Ngatoko Ngatoko said George and Natana attended a training at the ministry head office last month (December) where the training covered legislation, border operation on vessel and aircraft clearance both international and domestic and animal and crop /plant research.

The training was for two weeks.

“George was a former Fisheries officer on Rarotonga and he moved to Penrhyn and we are happy to work with him and the Island Council,” he said.

Ngatoko said for Penrhyn it was important for the new warrant officer to monitor international yachts that frequently followed that route from Tahiti and departed for Tonga, Fiji and New Zealand and went to Suwarrow and Rarotonga.

He said the warrant helps build the confidence of the officers to perform their duty.

“We are happy to have them on board.”

Meanwhile, Ngatoko said data have shown that the local community are now aware of the need to comply with the biosecurity legislation and the importance of declaring any product or plants they may want to take to the pa enua or to Rarotonga.

He added more training through a New Zealand Aid Programme would be held later in the year for Biosecurity staff.