South Island see didymo as more of a threat

South Islanders see didymo as more of a threat than North Islanders, new research has found.

The research was conducted by Neilson Research Group on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Biosecurity New Zealand.

It involved interviews with 1500 freshwater users who entered multiple waterways more than four times a year.

The research found that North Islanders (65 per cent) perceived didymo as less of a serious threat to their region than those living in the South Island (85 per cent).

MAF communications director Jeremy Lambert said the difference between the perceptions could be because people considered didymo to be a South Island problem, as it had not been found in the North Island yet.

The research also found that more New Zealanders were checking, cleaning and drying their equipment to try to prevent the spread of didymo.

It showed 64 per cent always made an effort to check, clean and dry their equipment with a further 25 per cent saying they made an effort some of the time.

MAF South Island long term management operations manager Jeff Donaldson said three mobile staff had been employed during the summer to promote the message on lakes and rivers throughout the Otago region as well as seven other staff manning major boat ramps and beaches.

- NZPA