Research, Science & Technology
Science is a critical element underpinning biosecurity. It can have an enormous input to managing risks and uncertainties, and ultimately the effectiveness of any decision. It can provide key information for many questions and can help determine which questions should be asked. MAF Biosecurity New Zealand employs scientists throughout the business, from plant and animal diagnosticians to social scientists.
MAFBNZ's Strategic Science Team provides oversight, focus and coordination for biosecurity and animal welfare science. The key areas that the science team works on are:
- Implementation of the Biosecurity Science Strategy
- MAFBNZ's engagement with science providers, funders and end-users
- MAFBNZ's Operational Research fund
A Biosecurity Science Strategy for New Zealand – Mahere Rautaki Putaiao Whakamaru
A Biosecurity Science Strategy for New Zealand - Mahere Rautaki Putaiao Whakamaru 
(1477 KB) (the Strategy), launched in October 2007, addresses the science expectations of the
Biosecurity Strategy for New Zealand (2003). It was developed with valuable input from those who use science to improve our biosecurity systems, from science providers and from science funders.
The Strategy highlights the complexity of biosecurity science and the broad range of outcomes it needs to support. The Strategy recognises that achieving good biosecurity outcomes is dependent on multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approaches and co-operation across the whole science system.
As well as identifying current science needs and priorities, the Strategy outlines a fundemental change in the way that biosecurity science is prioritised and directed. It outlines a biosecurity science system that will provide clear advice on priorities to all those involved in biosecurity science. This system will regularly review and identify research priorities as well as advising on implementing research outputs.
Implementing the strategy requires input from across the biosecurity system. The Science Team has an ongoing program of working with people throughout the system - MAFBNZ staff, science funders, science providers and end-users, to further the aims of the strategy.
If you would like us to send you a printed copy of the strategy, please send an email request to: Biosecurity.Science@maf.govt.nz
Engagement with Science funders, providers and end-users
The Strategic Science Team coordinates MAFBNZ engagement with the many other organisations that have a role to play in biosecurity science. Some examples include:
Outcome-based investments (OBIs)
OBIs are long-term research programmes, funded through the Foundation for Research Science and Technology 
. In these up-to-12-year programmes, a number of research organisations work collaboratively to achieve agreed outcomes.
There are four biosecurity-related programmes funded through the OBI process:
- Better Border Biosecurity (B3) – prevention of establishment of new terrestrial exotic plant pests.
- Possum Biocontrol – possum control research
- Defining New Zealand's Terrestrial Biota – terrestrial taxonomy and systematics
- Marine Biodiversity & Biosecurity – marine biosecurity research and marine taxonomy and systematics, and marine protected area research
The Cross Departmental Research Pool (CDRP)
The Cross-Departmental Research Pool (CDRP) supports policy-related research in government departments, and is managed jointly by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology and the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.
The Cross-Departmental Research Pool aims to:
- fund high quality cross-departmental research, which will support government's policies
- catalyse new relationships and capabilities within and between departments so that over time departments take responsibility for investment in long-term high-quality research
- develop a portfolio of research activity divided between smaller, short-term projects to catalyse new relationships and capabilities, and multi-year large scale projects to provide key building blocks for government's decision making.
MAFBNZ is involved in a number of CDRP funded research projects including:
Vector Borne Disease and Vector Ecology
This three year project was undertaken in conjunction with the Department of Conservation and Ministry of Health. The aims of the project are to establish diagnostic tools for selected vector borne diseases, develop research tools for understanding the ecology of selected vectors in New Zealand, and develop tools for use in surveillance for vectors or vector borne diseases. Two research studies are underway in this project:
1. An ecological study of endemic vector borne diseases (or agents) and their hosts at four sites representing a range of endemic diseases such as Whataroa virus, avian malaria, and seabird tick associated viruses and bacteria.
2. A laboratory and ecological study of the vector competence of selected endemic mosquitoes for exotic Ross River virus and West Nile virus.
Developing Capacity to Analyse Biosecurity Impacts on Native Flora of Biological and/ or Cultural Value
The Biological and Cultural Impacts project is focussed on developing case studies on a number of native plants. Through these case studies we will be able to identify potential pests of these species and develop a methodology for assessing their impacts on environmental and cultural values. In particular, a priority is to investigate how the identified pests are likely to affect Maori cultural values and develop approaches for working with Maori to include Maori cultural values in biosecurity decision-making. This project was undertaken in conjunction with Te Puni Kokiri, Department of Conservation, Environmental Risk Management Authority and Ministry of Heath.
Marine Biosecurity Decision Support Tool
This project is primarily being undertaken in conjunction with the Department of Conservation. Maritime New Zealand, the Ministry for Environment and Ministry of Fisheries also contributed at the conception phase of this project. The project consists of research on value mapping, biofouling and risk profiling. It will allow MAFBNZ to identify and prioritise marine-based risks to the NZ environment and also to objectively value NZ’s coastal resources. Primarily used for prevention: to put in place measures to prevent the introduction or unwanted organisms to NZ and secondly to mitigate the impacts if they do arrive.
Operational Research
MAFBNZ's Operational Research Fund is used to purchase contract research to solve short to medium term policy and operational issues in biosecurity and animal welfare. Staff members throughout MAFBNZ identify research required and these are prioritised using MAFBNZ's decisions framework. Although it has an important place in contributing to the achievement of strategic outcomes for biosecurity and animal welfare, operational research has a tactical focus, with a one to three year time frame.
Page last updated: 30 September 2008