Cane toad was third to reach NZ this year

A cane toad found in Queenstown last week was the third to arrive in the country this year, but the first to elude border control.

The poisonous toad hopped out of a tourist's bag in a Duke St shop after travelling in her hiking boots from Cairns, The Southland Times reported yesterday.

Staff caught the toad and euthanised it in a freezer, before handing it to the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry.

It had passed through a biosecurity check at Queenstown Airport, despite the passenger declaring the boots and presenting them for inspection.

Yesterday, a MAF Biosecurity spokesperson said two other cane toads had been found in New Zealand this year.

One was found in a passenger's luggage at Auckland Airport in April.

The second, uncovered in July, was found in Auckland in a crate of parts that had been shipped from Fiji.

"We find these things, well, not regularly, but we do find a couple a year."

The invasive pest, which can kill small animals and harm humans, could establish itself in northern New Zealand if it escaped into the wild.

The MAF spokesperson said border staff were aware of the danger cane toads posed and that they could hide in luggage and cargo.

"In light of this incident they'll probably be looking (in boots) a bit more carefully."

However, the ministry was confident about its procedures and would not be carrying out a formal review.

MAF employed one fulltime and 12 part-time biosecurity staff at Queenstown Airport, a level that reflected the seasonal demands of the airport.

- © Fairfax NZ News