Post by @pezmico@mastodon.nz

Honestly? I have little to no confidence in the Minister, a federated Farmers-Act stooge with no scientific background or curiosity who has consistently ignored or undermined expert advice.

Also, part of the government that has mindlessly cut all the "back office" and endlessly pandered to the cooker antivax crowd.

But here we go.

Seabird found on Wellington beach tests positive for H5 bird flu https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/environment/723404/seabird-found-on-wellington-beach-tests-positive-for-h5-bird-flu

#NZPol #H5N1

RNZ

Seabird found on Wellington beach tests positive for H5 bird flu

Bird flu has been detected in New Zealand.

#h5n1 #nzpol

Jon Sullivan

@joncounts@mastodon.nz 2 hours ago

@pezmico Yes, I hope they allow government ministries to focus on more birds than just the poultry industry or this is going to be rough. At least the Department of Conservation has had a lot of time to prepare for this, and as far as I’ve heard they’ve been using that time wisely and hav been gearing up to protect our most threatened birds. I’m sure more resources would help them right now.

Paul Hellyer

@paulh@cloudisland.nz 2 hours ago

@pezmico And as someone observed on Bluesky he seems completely oblivious to any impact of H5 on our native birdlife. Because, you know, that something "other people" are concerned about. As you rightly observe he has no curiosity beyond dairy farming.

Dave Lane :flag_tino: 🇳🇿

@lightweight@mastodon.nzoss.nz 2 hours ago

@paulh @pezmico Hoggard a dim and unsympathetic individual. So unworthy of power. He's just another totally biased lobbyist who's been put into an MP costume.

Jeremy Buffer Jones :tinoflag:

@jeremy_pm@mastodon.nz 2 hours ago

@pezmico

I’m old enough to remember the John Key govt saying it looks like much of NZ’s dairy cows have been infected with mycoplasma bovis, there’s really nothing we can do.

I’m also old enough to remember the Jacinda Ardern govt being elected after the Key govt and saying I reckon we can overcome this mycoplasma bovis infection in NZ’s dairy herds and freeing NZ dairy farms of mycoplasma bovis.

Seems the best place to start in addressing this bird flu problem is once again changing the #NZPol government.

zl2tod

@zl2tod@mastodon.online 3 hours ago

@pezmico

Seconded, that guy is as dumb as a sack of hammers.