Now, to those of us here in New Zealand who understand our unique environment, we know how lucky we are to be free of so many pests and threats that other countries battle, and that's in big part due to our being located at the bottom of the Pacific. Being free from unwanted pests and diseases gives us a competitive advantage. It's played a role in building our international reputation as a nation that exports high-quality products. The arrival of new diseases and pests puts that at risk. But for those who aren't coming from an isolated country with few pests or diseases, it seems perfectly normal to pack some fruit for the trip, some honey as a gift, or some dried meat as a snack, and the boots they've just worn in a forest or on a farm. In fact, at an international airport overseas once, I watched as someone got a tree wrapped to take on the plane with them—a sight that would cause anxiety for many New Zealanders. 