[stubacca]

Guilty until proven innocent OR the current state of travel in New Zealand

BE CAREFUL what you post on any forum because someone is probably reading and that will screw you over on your next overseas innocent herping trip. New Zealand is a gorgeous country with an amazing geckofauna, but the government, I’m afraid, is somewhat ignorant of their herpotofauna and unfortunately very paranoid. Don’t be an idiot and smuggle! It ruins it for the rest of us. Respect the country’s laws even if they don’t really know what they are doing. They’ll figure it out one day – I hope.
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[GeckoFiend]

interesting post, and great pics. Thanks for sharing.

[Elizabeth Freer]

Stubacca ~

Oh my go*!!! A huge thanks for posting all these details. Your account is remarkable on many levels. They even had one of your recent photos as "evidence"!!!

I hope that you are tough and have recovered from this experience.

Thanks for sharing your photos with us. So cute. I love every one of them.

[DDReptiles]

I think that is how it works everywhere now, guilty until proven otherwise.

Glad the trip was fun otherwise

[Ken Bartenfeld]

Interesting read for sure. Sorry about them hassling you so much. Guess you can expect it. Hope the future doesn't involve Stuart again. Sounds like a prick.

Thanks for the photos.

I got a kick out of this:

as well as willingly offered to submit to full search (I even proffered the cavity search, which he (thankfully) arrogantly refused).

Thanks god he rufused, eh?

[jaysommers]

Guess what folks,New Zealand aint the only government that uses forums as a tool to keep track of what is going on.They all do it.This is why people should watch what they say on forums about animals and where they come from.Especially New Zealand,Australia and New Caledonia!!But certainly others.Even if what you say doesn't get you in trouble personally it causes other people trouble and makes it harder for people who do things legally with the proper protocol.It makes it harder to get permits etc.It brings unwanted attention.Do not say what you are doing ,where you are going,what you have (like fresh new bloodlines) Don't even do it over the computer in private.They can get into your private stuff.Just keep it to yourself.I know for a fact they all(gov. agencies), including individual state officials in the U.S.,look at forums and classifieds like Kingsnake.I know of instances in my neighbouring state (missouri)where the conservation officials have used advertisements on Kingsnake to bust people and then used the ad as evidence to nail the coffin shut.

[SelectGex]

Grade A post! Thanks so much! Very, very interesting.

[stubacca]

You said it, Jay.

Thanks for reading everybody.

[Geckophile Admin]

This is why people should watch what they say on forums about animals and where they come from

Absolutely. I've received numerous emails from F&W "officials" and other agencies around the world inquiring about certain folks and posts here. They are definitely watching. Play by the rules, folks. Wait, there's someone at my door...

[Elizabeth Freer]

Nathan ~

Did you let him in?