[MSN] South Canterbury is off the radar of looters targeting precious fossil beds around New Zealand.

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  Off lotters' radar

The Timaru Herald | Wednesday, 10 October 2007

* South Canterbury is off the radar of looters targeting precious fossil 
beds around New Zealand. *

Palaeontologist Hamish Campbell said it was a serious problem that was 
seeing a constant bleeding of specimens from New Zealand.

He wants tougher laws to protect scientifically precious fossil beds 
from being looted and exported to overseas dealers.

However, South Canterbury Museum director Philip Howe wasn't aware of a 
looting problem within the region.

There are a number of well known fossil sites in South Canterbury. He 
said casual collecting had gone on for decades but the sites were not at 
risk.

Efforts would be made to protect fossil sites if a site was deemed to be 
of great scientific importance.

Most people came across fossils accidentally. He thought it was great if 
people found a fossil and learnt something about the land in the process.

Mr Campbell said one of the most showy types of fossils being exported 
was fossil crabs from Miocene-era rocks 24 million years old in North 
Canterbury and Taranaki.

"The geological community is aware of many localities that have quite 
literally been plundered by dead-keen amateurs," he said.

"We need to raise the bar so that people are liable to real penalties."

Under the Antiquities Act people can export almost anything and be fined 
only about $250.

"All fossils going overseas should have some paperwork with them – and 
they should be cleared through an agency such as GNS Science," Mr 
Campbell said.

His comments come just before the launch of a national fossil record 
created by GNS Science that will tour the country for three years. It 
showcases New Zealand fossils as indicators and predictors of climate 
change, evolution, natural disasters, and resources such as mineral 
deposits and oil and gas.

Mr Howe said it was a shame the exhibition wasn't coming to Timaru.

"If we had a larger museum we could host it."

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