400 new pests and organisms into New Zealand every year is too many, according to Labour’s Biosecurity spokesman Damien O’Connor, and is an accident waiting to happen for our economy.

Mr O’Connor launched a broadside at the new 'fastgate' systems installed at New Zealand airports, and says out primary production sector is being put at risk for passenger comfort.

“We need to increase our trade, that is a two way thing, so it means that we’re likely to see more imports coming in to the country. That means we need to up our game in terms of biosecurity and border control.

"We have to cut back on the number of unwanted pests and organisms coming into the country, not just accept that one or two a day is OK, which is unfortunately what’s happening now.”

But MAF Biosecurity Cargo Clearance Director Jeremy Lambert says with thousands of travellers coming into the country every day there’s little more border security can do.

“While no unwanted pests arriving in New Zealand is what we’re aiming for, at the end of the day, with just over one arriving every day when our staff are looking at over 175 thousand different transactions, be it sea vessels, aircraft, passengers, and cargo consignments, that’s not too bad an outcome even though we are looking for zero.”