The Biosecurity System

To most people, biosecurity operations are associated with highly visible activities such as Quarantine inspection at the border, the Detector Dogs that are used at Auckland International Airport to detect biosecurity risk goods, or high-profile incursion responses.

These are just the visible tip of the biosecurity 'iceberg'. Pests and diseases pose serious threats to our economy, environment, health and cultural identity.

• The Reserve Bank estimated that a foot and mouth outbreak could cost the economy $10 billion. Thousands of jobs would be put at risk, and the economy would take years to recover.
• New Zealand depends on healthy oceans and marine environments (for fishing, tourism, recreation, and native species), but we are just beginning to understand this part of our environment.
• Many of the worst weeds and animals that seemed perfectly soft, furry and innocuous in other countries are causing us great damage.

Given the potential impacts of a serious biosecurity incursion, it's easy to see why biosecurity is critical for New Zealand. A lot more effort is put in behind the scenes to ensure that biosecurity risks are reduced, managed or eliminated long before – and in some cases after – unwanted pests and diseases reach our shores.

Biosecurity is not an end in itself; it achieves multiple outcomes, such as:

• increased trade and market access for New Zealand's products;
• maintaining and enhancing economic opportunities, growth and prosperity;
• protection and enhancement of our natural and historic heritage, the integrity of ecosystems and the character of New Zealand landscapes;
• optimised human health and wellbeing;
• healthy and rewarding lifestyles, freedom and respect for cultural expression, and enjoyment of the recreational value of the natural environment;
• protection of Māori biologically based economic and cultural resources – maintaining the relationship between Māori and their culture and traditions, and their ancestral lands, waters, waahi tapu and taonga.

The geographic model is separated into three separate but interrelated zones of activity.

• Global – rest of the world, outside New Zealand's borders, where biosecurity risks emerge and information on intelligence and surveillance is gathered and exchanged. This is where international treaties and multi-lateral agreements are negotiated and where responsibility for facilitating trade access and for New Zealand's reputation lies.
• Pathways and Borders – the mode in which biosecurity-risk goods and organisms arrive and enter New Zealand, the final point at which people, goods and craft are given approval to enter into or depart from New Zealand, including all the activity to manage risk prior to or at the border. This includes export trade inspection and official assurances.
• Within New Zealand – the management of risks and impacts of pests and diseases that have crossed the border and diseases that have already established in New Zealand. The effective national biosecurity management together with animal welfare management enables the assurance of New Zealand as an exporter that is free of biosecurity-risk goods.

The system covers biosecurity activities:

• offshore - reducing the risks posed by other countries such as developing Standards and Regulations
• our borders - stopping biosecurity-risk pests and diseases getting into New Zealand
• within out border - eradicating or managing those pests and diseases that have established.

It's a joint effort involving central government, regional councils, industry, community groups and of course four million pairs of eyes.

Who is involved?

The biosecurity system requires the involvement of much more than central government agencies. Stakeholders are wide ranging with diverse interests and requirements – it is critical that all New Zealanders (individuals, industry and other organisations) participate and take responsibility for risks they create or are best placed to manage. MAFBNZ provides the leadership across the biosecurity system, establishes the policy framework, delivers effective interventions across the system and encourages participation and collaborations of effort for improved outcomes.

Working with stakeholders is central to MAFBNZ achieving its outcomes, and our focus will remain on relationship building, communication, education and consultation. Initiatives currently underway include:

• a Border Sector Governance Group, comprising of chief executives from the New Zealand Customs Service , Department of Labour , Ministry of Transport and MAF, to improve the management of the border system by adopting a more cohesive and coherent approach;
• joint efforts between MAFBNZ and a container shipping company to reduce any contamination in containers coming from the Pacific Islands;
• pest interceptions being made by industry accredited persons inspecting low-risk containers at approved transitional facilities.
• the Fiordland Marine Biosecurity Programme, a joint programme between MAF, the Department of Conservation , Environment Southland and the Fiordland Marine Guardians , to protect the Fiordland area from harmful organisms.
• MAFBNZ and regional councils are working together to deliver summer didymo social marketing to improve controls;
• the "Top of the South" marine biosecurity partnership model between central and local government;
• industry pest surveillance programmes – providing critical information for operational business decision – making and providing improved early detection of new exotic pests;
• public surveillance programme for suspected new pests.

Page last updated: 7 October 2008