A venomous snake frightened Canterbury supermarket workers after it was found dead in a box of bananas imported from Ecuador.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) was told about the snake on May 10 after Rangiora New World workers spotted it while unpacking the bananas.
A snake specialist identified the 20.7-centimetre snake as a juvenile Leptodeira ornata, also known as an ornate cat-eyed snake, that's found in South America.
This type of snake is mildly venomous and is rear-fanged but isn't known to be dangerous to humans, although it does have a painful bite if it's provoked.
An MPI spokesperson says it is a strictly tropical species that wouldn't be able to survive a New Zealand winter and it wouldn't be able to naturalise here.
"Biosecurity New Zealand takes the threat of snakes establishing in New Zealand very seriously. This is why we have a multi-layered biosecurity system that involves strict import requirements, checks at the border and surveillance. It is also why we have trained personnel to handle detections safely and effectively," they say.
About one or two snakes are found in New Zealand each year after making their way past surveillance checks, and a further four to eight are found at the border. These snakes normally aren't venomous and mostly arrive dead due to the treatment of imported cargo, the spokesperson says.
In April, Newshub revealed that 59 snakes had been found in New Zealand over the past 10 years. Twenty-nine were discovered at the border, seven of which were still alive. Of the 30 that made it into the country, just five were alive.
A carpet python was found by tradies at a Papakura construction site in March in goods that were imported from Australia. It was found when a new pipe was flushed out after it was sent across the Tasman.
Anyone who sees what could be an unwanted pest or disease is asked to report the sighting to MPI on 0800 80 99 66.
