A future-focused organisation
MPI provides policy and regulatory advice, market access and trade services, and manages major regulatory systems of biosecurity, food safety, forestry, fisheries management, and animal welfare. MPI also has strong relationships with other government agencies, primarily within the economic, border, and natural resources sectors.
With the New Zealand economy set to grow, MPI's important role in leading, regulating, and enabling the primary sectors will only increase.
Business units
- Biosecurity New Zealand
- Fisheries New Zealand
- New Zealand Food Safety
- Te Uru Rākau - New Zealand Forest Service
- Agriculture and Investment Services
In addition to its business units, MPI has the following functions:
- Public Affairs
- Policy and Trade
- Corporate Services
- Māori Partnerships and Investment.
MPI also supports:
- sustainable economic development
- trade
- agriculture
- rural communities.
Sustainable economic development
Through our leadership of the primary production system, MPI oversees New Zealand's primary production. Our role includes educating on, and enforcement of, animal welfare standards across New Zealand and developing mechanisms for sustainable limits and practices within our agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries. MPI also works with central and local government to support increased productivity across the primary sector, and increased sustainable use of resources, such as water and soil. We play a major role in New Zealand's domestic and regional economic development through our work with farmers, fishers, foresters, corporations, banks, Māori, and industry-level bodies.
Trade
Through our involvement in New Zealand's trade system, MPI maintains and enhances market access and the New Zealand export system. As the major regulator of the primary sector, MPI is a critical player in the negotiation and maintenance of access to overseas markets for primary products. Many companies and primary producers depend upon MPI's facilitation, certification and verification activities to get products across borders. New Zealand also plays a main role in influencing international arrangements and standards that facilitate trade.
Agriculture
MPI works to support growth for New Zealand’s agricultural industries in a sustainable manner. MPI’s role covers policy development and regulatory responsibilities across our key production sectors, including: dairy, horticulture, viticulture, and meat and wool. Our work focusses on lifting primary sector productivity and value within resource limits, establishing frameworks for industry structures, supporting resilience, providing information and intelligence to the sector, stimulating innovation and supporting regional and Maori economic development. In addition to improving on-farm environmental management, MPI will be working with the agricultural industries to enhance performance by accelerating the shift towards value-add growth, and manage new and potentially disruptive trends.
Rural communities
Healthy and vibrant rural communities are central to the continued success of New Zealand’s primary industries, and contribute to the success of New Zealand society as a whole. MPI works to ensure that rural communities can thrive in the face of emerging challenges. We deliver for rural communities through our work on: regional economic development, providing a rural perspective in government decisions, and improving resilience of rural communities (adverse events and mental wellness support).
