About Us - Our Organisation
Who we are
The Government has entrusted the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) 
with one of the most important and complex public service mandates – to lead New Zealand's biosecurity system toward the future state identified in the Biosecurity Strategy for New Zealand (2003) whereby:
"New Zealanders, our natural resources, our plants and animals are all kept safe and secure from damaging pests and diseases". Biosecurity Council (August 2003) Tiakina Aotearoa Protect New Zealand – The Biosecurity Strategy for New Zealand. Biosecurity Council, Wellington, p8.
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand is the division of MAF charged with leadership of the New Zealand biosecurity system. It encompasses facilitating international trade, protecting the health of New Zealanders and ensuring the welfare of our environment, flora and fauna, marine life and Maori resources. (See MAF's Statement of Intent )
We came into being on 1 July 2007 from the integration of two former business groups of MAF - Biosecurity New Zealand and MAF Quarantine Services.
Around $500 million is spent annually on biosecurity in New Zealand, of which $180 million is allocated directly by MAF Biosecurity New Zealand. (See Funding)
We have around 1000 full time and part-time staff, based across New Zealand and overseas. They include vets, scientists, quarantine inspectors, directors, managers, administrators, advisers, Detector Dogs and their handlers, analysts, investigators, legal experts, policy makers, communicators, strategist and business services staff (See Careers at MAF). Additional information about our organisation can be found in the Structure section of our site.
Our Mission
To protect New Zealand's natural advantage by making timely and informed risk management decisions and delivering effective interventions.
What we do
MAFBNZ contributes to the MAF economic, social, cultural, health and environmental outcomes. We're here to keep out, remove, or effectively manage the harm that pests or diseases can do to our economy, the environment and our health. To do this we:
- provide leadership across the biosecurity system
- establish policy, standards and regulations
- deliver effective interventions
- encourage wider participation and collaboration of effort
How we do it
Our work has several outcomes:
- Preventing harmful organisms from crossing New Zealand's borders and establishing, while
- ensuring trade and tourism are maintained
- Reducing the unwanted harm caused by organisms already established in New Zealand, and
- Supporting New Zealanders to ensure they are informed and involved participants in the biosecurity system
We reduce risk and facilitate trade across three distinct zones of activity:
Global - we gather and exchange information about emerging risks around the world (See Biosecurity System) , negotiate international treaties and multilateral agreements (See Policy, Laws and Agreements); and facilitate trade access through the development of Standards and Regulations.
Pathways and Borders - manage risk prior to and at the border (See Entering New Zealand, and Standards and Regulations-Importing), including export trade inspection and official assurances (See Standards and Regulations-Exporting)
Within New Zealand - we manage animal welfare and the risks and impacts of pests and diseases that have already established in New Zealand.
The Biosecurity System
Our system is made up of many groups and organisations working together:
- Others in the government sector including the Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Tourism, Tourism New Zealand, Ministry for Economic Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of Health, Land Information New Zealand, Ministry of Fisheries, the Department of Conservation, Environmental Risk Management Authority, NZ Customs, Crown Research Institutes, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, New Zealand Food Safety Authority.
- Primary production organisations
- Industry sectors, such as importers, exporters, transport and travel, marine and tourism operators.
- Regional councils and local government
- The public heath sector
- Environmental groups.
Our Minister
Hon David Carter was first elected to Parliament in 1994 as the Member of Parliament for the rural electorate of Selwyn. In the 1996 General Election, he won the Banks Peninsula electorate. In 1999 he became a list member based in Canterbury and with specific responsibility for the Banks Peninsula electorate.
David was the Junior Government Whip in 1996, before being promoted to a Minister outside Cabinet in 1998. Ministerial responsibilities included Minister for Senior Citizens, Associate Minister for Food Fibre, Biosecurity and Border Control, Associate Minister for Revenue, and Associate Minister for Education.
Please refer to Minister Carter's New Zealand Government webpages for additional information and ministerial media releases.
Funding
The government has overall responsibility for funding biosecurity, in particular border management, surveillance and incursions.
Around $500 million is spent annually on biosecurity in New Zealand, with activities undertaken by central government, regional councils, industry and private landowners. It is estimated government agencies are responsible for $304 million of this.
Funding for MAFBNZ comes under Vote Biosecurity and in 2007/08 this came to approximately $170 million. In 2006/07 an additional $34.8 million was spent on incursions. Money for biosecurity also comes from Vote Conservation (approximately $50 million to be spent on pest management), Regional Councils (approximately $60 million which includes $30 million of Crown Tuberculosis funding) and landowners ($100 to $120 million).
Page last updated: 21 November 2008
Relevant Resources
- Profile Document
(2685 KB)