[foolsgold99]

Be careful what you bring in with you.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3232442a10,00.html

[Timbo]

Rules are rules, whoever you are. They may sound a bit over zealous, but when you think of the problems that other unwanted imports have caused, it all makes perfect sense.
I heard of a Grandmother who got fined £1500 (au$ equiv) last year, for not declaring a couple of apples. Ouch!

[sarahw]

Good I'm glad Hillary got fined - I don't think anyone should use their fame to get out of a rule that applies to all because she was 'tired' after her flight and forgot!!! What makes her so different from the rest of us?!

Have to say that I fully agree with the reasons behind this rule and why the MAF are so stringent - we all want to enjoy NZ's beauty for what it is & don't want any potential pests in the form of insects or plants entering the country & jeapordising that.

(Right just got down off my soapbox now!) :laugh

[Hannah]

Have to say i found it refreshing to find a small dog sit down and wag it's tail next to my son at Auckland airport - he had taken his school rucksack, which had obviously contained fruit at some point in the past, and the dog was most pleased!

We hear so much about drug smuggling through airports that to see my son stopped for possible apple smuggling made a fab start to my holiday!!! I fell in love with Auckland airport that day (and on the flight home we sat in Auckland airport and watched a Beavers group take part in a treasure hunt around the departure lounge - could you imagine that in Heathrow!!?? Or LA???!!!!!