Traveller brings cow pat through customs

A traveller from Malaysia has declared a cow pat as part of their luggage while trying to come into New Zealand.

A traveller has had a crappy arrival to New Zealand after trying to bring a cow pat into the country.

The Ministry of Primary Industries says the visitor arriving from Malaysia was caught with the packaged dung last week in Auckland.

MPI's Auckland Airport manager Dave Sims said the traveller had brought the pat through for burning at a Hindu temple in Otahuhu, but it posed a biosecurity threat.

"Cow pats are made by mixing fresh cow faeces with hay. We can't permit them to enter New Zealand as they could contain unwanted seeds, parasites or even plant or animal diseases that could harm the livelihood of farmers and growers," he said.

Mr Sims said while it was rare to find cow pats in luggage, they were a commercial product, commonly used as fuel and were sometimes even sold with gift wrapping.

The Ministry said the traveller had done the right thing and declared the package to biosecurity.