We want a resilient biosecurity system
New Zealand places significant importance on biosecurity. An effective system underpins the strength and resilience of our primary sector industries. It helps us to protect our native flora and fauna, whenua, freshwater and marine environments, as well as our cultures, lifestyles, livelihoods, and health.
Our national system is greater than the sum of its individual parts. It's a multi-layered, interconnected network of people, infrastructure, tools and technology, processes, and operational and regulatory activities.
A shared action plan will help people and organisations across the biosecurity system work together more effectively.
Setting our priorities is becoming more important
While our biosecurity system has served us well, the threats we face are growing in scale and complexity. Risk pathways (the ways new and unwanted organisms can get here), along with our climate, are changing, and there is increasing pressure from both new and established pests and diseases. In this complex environment, a shared view on strategic direction and a mechanism to determine strategic priorities becomes even more important.
Biosecurity New Zealand is working with people and organisations across the system to confirm a shared direction for collective biosecurity management along with priority actions to achieve this.
What has been done so far
Biosecurity New Zealand reviewed outdated strategies – including the 2003 strategy ('Tiakina Aotearoa – Protect New Zealand') and the 2016 strategy ('Biosecurity 2025') and their deliverables. We looked at what progress has been made, identified gaps, and confirmed where collective focus was required to address current and future challenges. We identified valuable aspects of previous strategies that should be kept, and:
- established a 'think tank' working group to test ideas and shape direction
- gathered feedback from Biosecurity New Zealand and MPI staff
- ran 6 online workshops that were attended by a range of people with local, regional and central government, Māori, industry, environmental, science, non-governmental agency, and Crown Research Institute perspectives
- held in-depth hui with Māori biosecurity experts
- undertook targeted engagement with youth
- interviewed around 50 system leaders across government agencies, industry, and regional councils to confirm expectations of the biosecurity system and critical actions.
A new biosecurity system action plan
We have used what we heard from this broad engagement to draft a short 'biosecurity system action plan' comprising a vision, mission, outcomes, approach, and priority actions.
The plan is expected to deliver timely system improvements where they are needed most and make the best use of existing resources.
The draft plan will be refined in March and April 2025 with help from partners and stakeholders that are committed to joint ownership, and who are prepared to take the lead on actions where they are best placed and can commit the necessary resources.
We have formed a steering group to help finalise the plan, encourage broad participation and oversee its implementation. The steering group is made up of members that can offer a broad range of biosecurity system perspectives and interests with strong connection within their respective sectors. Steering group members will champion the plan, facilitate conversations within their organisations and wider spheres, and help build momentum.
The plan is expected to be finalised by late May and launched in June 2025.
