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oIA S9-161

I March 01CI

tlfry

lMinistrf fAgriculffrrendForeslryTeManatiAhuwhenua,lgSherehere

D*u'ttI write in responseo the concerns ou have aisedaroundZion Wildlife Gardens,ollowingreceiptof theresponseo youremailof 30 December 009 OIA 09-130).While I noteyour comments ndconcerns,he Ministry of Agricultureand Forestry MAF)canonly respondo requestsor specific nformation hat s within its legalobligations o doso under he Official InformationAct 1982. Tb go partway n addressingour concernshowever, want to provideyou with someassurance f what MAF is doing to protectanimslwelfare,biosecurityand business iability interests tZion Wildlife Cardens.As stated n theOfficial InformatianAct response ated3 February2010, hepost-martemand autopsy nformation elating o thedeathof Shia s confidential o Zian Wildlife Gardensand MAF is obliged o respecthat confidentiality.Provisionof the infsrmationyou seek s atthe dismetionof Zion Wildlife Gardens;herefore suggesthat a cordialapproach,explaining why the information s sought, fiBy facilitate Zian Wildlife Gardensm*nagementto releaset. As you are no dcubt aw&re? i*n Wildlife Gardens ontinues o attractmediaandpublic attentionand Ziar. Wildlife Garclensmanagement re naturally reticentabout"fanning he flames"CIf ny ssues. wouldsuggesthat sorneassuranceboutprotectingheirinterestsmay facilitate heirwiilingness o provide he nformationyou seek.You have aisedconcerns boutMAF's endeavourso protect hecatsat Zion WildlifeGardens" can assure ou thatMAF is working verycloselywith Zion Wildlife Gardensoenslr that animalwelfare,biosecurityandbusiness iability aremaintained,The primarygoalof this engagements to ensure hatoptimal decisions re eachedhat providea bestbalanceo all tlree considerationsndera varietyof situationshat may arisenow or into thefuture. This naturallyappiies o suffent operations f Zion Wildlife Gardens nd he meansby which theseareevaluated s beingeffective. I hopeyou will appreciatehat this is acomplexsituation, nvolvingseveralgovernment gencies, nd s a difficult time for ZionWildlife Gardensas t navigateshrough egal ssues, ublic andmedia nterestand he needto maintaina viablebusiness peration.

!,ff 8IO$TCUNITYEW EATAPastsralsuse,5 heTenace,2526,teflingtan,fuw ealaTelephon*4-894100, acsimile4-894 730,feb:ryrvw.biosmurit

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I realise his responsemaynot entirelyprovide you with the satistbcticn ou seek. hope,however, t givesyousomesense f thecomplexity f thesituationMAF is dealingwith. Inthis situationMAF needso work collaboratively s far aspossiblewith Zion WildlifGardenso maintainandenhance nimalwelfare,biosecurityandbusiness iabilitv.

Yours sincerely

Tim KnoxDirector Border Standards

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orA09-160I March201(}

Deart

Thankyou for youremail, receivecl 2 February 010, equestingurther nformation elatingto Zion Wildlife Gardens, articularlyexpressingoncerns bout he deathof Shia.You haverequestednformation elating o the ocationof theburial siteof Abu atZionWildlife Gardens.The Ministry of AgricultureandForestry MAF) is not able o provideyouwith this informationas t is confidential o Zion Wildlife Gardens ndMAF is obliged orespect hat confidentiality. The information may beobtained hrough an appropriateapproacho Zion Wildlife Gardensmanagement.Wtrile I noteyourconcerns ver he deathof Shia,MAF is awareof the cause f deathand ssatisfredtrrathere s no indication hat his wascausedhrough he nability or failureof theoperator o ensurehat he requirements f the relevant tandard'or the Animal WelfareAct1999werecompliedwith. Having said hat however,under heAnimal WelfareAct 1999,any New Zealandcitizen is within their rightsto raiseany concern nto the deathof an anirnalwith MAF should heyso desire" While the vastmajorityof suchconcerns redealtwiththroughconsultation nd education,MAF will pursuehe eoncern f therearegrounds owarranta further nvestigation"The contactnumber or any suchenquiries s 0800 008 333.Your email ndicates omeconcernabout heability of the current Zion Wildlife Gardensmanagemento ensllre hat the regulatory equirementselating o biosecurity ndanimalwelfareare beingcompliedwith. I would like to assure ou thatthe regulatory equirementsarebeing compliedwith to MAF's satisfaction.While there s ongaingwork arotmd efiningZian Wildlife Gardens'mechanismsor biosecurity ndanimal welfare,MAF is currentlyworkingverycloselywith Zian Wildlife Gardensmanagernento achievehis.In addition,Zion Wildlife Gardens asaccesso highly qualifiedexpertise ecessaryoensureliat the biosecurity, ealthand well-beingof theanirnalsare beingappropriately net.As you can appreciate.t is essentialhat any ssues roundZian Wildlif Gardens reacldressed ithin thecontextof accurateand actual nformation using recognised xpertsources.I- b{AF l}iosecurityNew Zealandarcl ERMA Nerv ZealandStandard 54.03.04:ContainmentFacilities or Zoo Animals

Ministry f AgriculturendForestryTeManatrlhuwhesua,{giherehereMAf m$rcuRrfitrlYE{tfrilDPastonl&use, 5The srace,52fiWcllin$on,*w lealandlelephone 4-894 100, acsimile4-894 730, eh wmr.bioserudty.gart"

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In regarcls our concern boutMAF approvingPatriciaBuschasoperator, canassure outhatMrs Busch net hesarllecriteriaof operatoraswereapplied o CraigBuschandany otheapplicant or operatoracrosshe country. While therearesomeoperationalssues t ZionWildlifb Gardens till beingworked hrough, nanyof these hallengeclrevious lperators.As I havealreaclyndicated,MAF is wor:king loselywith Zisn Wildlife Cardenso addresstheseandccnsidershe progress'to e satisfactory.With respecto connectinghe irnpenrJincourt caseand approvalaf Mrs Buschasop$rator,t mustberecognisedhat Mrs Buschwasnot the operatorat the imeof Dalu'sdeath. MAF mustawait heresults f anyproceedingsbefureconsideringwhat relqrance hesenay,, r may not,have or the operatorandwhafthemostappropriate ourse f abtionmay be under hecircumstances.I understanclhe basisof the concerns ou raiseand heobviousernpathy ou have or theanirnalsatZian Wildlife Gardens.While I noteyour concerns owever, hope havegonesomeway to providingassurancehat Zion Wildlife Gardenss cornpliantwith essentialregulatory equiretnents. AF is workingcloselywith Zton Wildlife Gardensmanagementoellsure hat hese&rebeingmet in the rnosteffectivewaypossible.

Yours sincerely ,//r/,7'/'/L*

Tirn KnoxDirector Border Standards