A snake found in a ute will meet its end soon when the Ministry for Primary Industries [MPI] fumigates the vehicle.
A man went to the Te Anau police station on Sunday afternoon to ask for help after spotting the slippery Australian import in his ute.
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It was still alive and police managed to secure it in the car.
A spokesperson for MPI told Newshub on Monday morning the snake stayed in the ute after it was discovered and it will still be in there when the vehicle is fumigated.
The spokesperson said the snake probably made its way into the car before crossing the border and had most likely been there for three months since the vehicle was imported from Australia.
It's believed the snake is an Australian tree snake, which is not dangerous to humans and mostly eats frogs, skinks and reptiles.
MPI could not comment on what would have happened if the snake left the ute during its three month stay in New Zealand.
While they're common in Australia, there are no snakes in New Zealand and it's illegal to deliberately import one or keep one captive. None of New Zealand's zoos or research facilities contain snakes.
Newshub.
