School children are being asked to name a litter of detector dogs.
Working biosecurity beagle Aria gave birth to the three male and three female pups in March. Together they are called G-litter.
When they are older, the dogs will undergo intensive training to work at ports and airports where they will sniff out food, plants and other items that could pose a biosecurity risk.
But first they need names beginning with the letter G, says Brett Hickman, Ministry for Primary Industries detection technology manager.
"As a way to promote biosecurity among school children, we're asking classrooms to send in naming ideas for one of the female puppies.
"Last year, we received an overwhelming response to our competition to name two beagle puppies from our F-litter. We're hoping for a similar response this year.
"The G-litter puppies have some very big paws to fill."
Schools are being asked to post their suggestions on the MPI detector dogs Facebook page.
Entries close next Tuesday.
Name this puppy
To send in your ideas, go to facebook.com/mpidetectordogs