High-power lasers still being found in NZ

Restrictions were placed on high-powered lasers in New Zealand after a number of strikes on aircraft but several are still being found by authorities.

The New Zealand government says it's concerned about the number of high-powered lasers being sold despite restrictions introduced in the country three months ago.

Laser sales were restricted to those under 1mW in power from March 1 after 116 laser strikes on aircraft were recorded in 2013.

The number of laser strikes have plateaued rather than decreased - there have been 37 such strikes reported to the Civil Aviation Authority to mid-May this year.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew says many lasers are still being sold that have either incorrect or no information about their strength.

Health officers have visited more than 80 retailers across the country to remind them of the ban and to remove high-powered lasers from shop shelves, Ms Goodhew said.

She says the Ministry of Health has tested 22 suspected high-powered lasers, eight of which had no labels, and found 17 were over the legal strength.

"Customs have also seized 10 high powered lasers from seven different attempts to bring them into the country," she said.

The government can allow lasers above 1mW upon application to the Ministry of Health.

Of the nine applications to date, five have been approved and one is still being considered.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world