Skip to main content
Last reviewed:

About the agreement

The Government Industry Agreement's (GIA) goal is to achieve better biosecurity outcomes in New Zealand. It brings together Government and primary industry groups, to better manage pests and diseases that could damage New Zealand's:

  • biosecurity system
  • primary industries
  • economy
  • environment.

Visit the GIA website

We refer to organisations who've joined the GIA as 'signatories' or 'partners'. These are usually groups or associations that represent a primary industry (like kiwifruit or forestry).

View a list of GIA signatories - GIA website

The GIA website has information about the requirements for becoming a member.

Signing up – GIA website

Download a support pack for organisations considering signing the GIA Deed

The GIA is managed by the GIA Secretariat – it's an independent organisation.

Learn more about how the GIA is managed - GIA website

What do GIA partners do?

The GIA works to improve biosecurity readiness and response through:

  • shared decision-making in managing biosecurity threats
  • sharing responsibilities of managing biosecurity threats
  • sharing the costs of managing biosecurity threats
  • creating campaigns and programmes to improve biosecurity performance in certain industries
  • creating working groups, which respond to specific threats and outbreaks
  • sharing information about New Zealand's biosecurity system
  • holding open forums to decide how to improve the biosecurity system.

For example, during the 2015 Queensland fruit fly response in Auckland, 2 GIA partners (Kiwifruit Vine Health and New Zealand Apples and Pears (formerly Pipfruit NZ)) worked with MPI to:

  • decide how to respond to the incursion
  • provide resources and technical support to their members.

Read more about the 2015 Queensland fruit fly response

Operational agreements

Operational agreements support successful biosecurity outcomes. They're agreements between GIA partners (including MPI). They describe how an industry will better prepare itself and respond to an incursion, and outline the terms for shared decision making and cost sharing. Industry groups can choose to sign these agreements with MPI. These commitments are binding – the signatories have to do what they’ve agreed to.

Information and guidance on developing an operational agreement – GIA website

GIA partners

The GIA is made up of MPI and primary industry organisations. Membership is voluntary, but industry organisations must meet certain requirements to join the partnership. 

You can find a list of all GIA signatories on the GIA website.

View a list of GIA signatories – GIA website

Why partners get involved

Through the GIA, partners can give input on managing biosecurity risks that their industry might face. For example, the New Zealand Avocado Growers’ Association, which represents avocado growers, can share in how decisions are made to manage biosecurity outbreaks.

GIA partnership principles

The principles of the partnership, which includes MPI and industry groups, are described in the:

  • Biosecurity Act 1993
  • Government Industry Agreement for biosecurity readiness and response deed.

These also include the signatories' rights, legal requirements, and responsibilities.

Find out more

Who to contact

If you have questions about the GIA, email secretariat@gia.org.nz

MPI business units