M. bovis compensation for farmers

Are you the legal owner?

MPI can only pay the legal owner of the affected property – you need to provide evidence to show that you’re the legal owner of the property, goods, or stock directly affected by MPI's exercise of powers. 

When to make a claim

You can claim compensation from the date the loss was incurred. Claims cannot be made in advance of a loss being incurred. All claims should be submitted to MPI within one year from the date the loss could be reasonably verified.

Making a claim – checklist of what we need

Make sure you've provided us with:

1. a completed claim form (using the correct type of loss form) for what you have experienced as a direct result of an exercise of powers authorised by MPI.
2. supporting documentation and information
3. any additional information that explains your circumstances.

Use the correct form

Select the form that best reflects your loss.

• Stock destruction loss form [PDF, 292 KB]
• Beef production loss form [PDF, 240 KB]
• Milk production loss form [PDF, 225 KB]
• Grazing compensation form [PDF, 268 KB]
• Income loss form [PDF, 226 KB]
• Repopulation form [PDF, 226 KB]

Once you have completed your claim form, email a copy along with your supporting information to compensationcoordinator@mpi.govt.nz

Someone from the compensation team will contact you with the outcome as soon as possible.

Operational costs need pre-approval (on any actions and operational costs you wish to claim for) before the expenditure is incurred. Operational payments are considered as part of any compensable losses claimed.

Work with your farm systems manager, who will help you to have these approved.

You can apply for support for the following on-farm operational costs:

• Equipment hire – where you need to hire extra farm equipment for animal welfare reasons, or for farming operations to continue.
• Animal feed – if required to ensure the welfare of animals under movement restriction or where the animals cannot be moved off the property.
• Fencing – where existing fencing is not adequate to contain animals for the protection of neighbouring farms. Costs could include hiring additional casual labour and temporary fencing materials.
• Cleaning – costs associated with extra cleaning and disinfection required under a Notice of Direction (NOD) or Restricted Place (RP) Notice.
• Mustering cattle for census or for each sampling round – discuss this with your Farm Systems Manager.
• Processing charges – M. bovis processing charges from the meat processor (unless already paid by the M. bovis Eradication Programme).
• Vet charges – You may be reimbursed for these. The M. bovis Eradication Programme may also pay for certifying that your animals are fit for transport.
• Transport – can include:
  • transporting stock to the meat processors
  • specific M. bovis cleaning and disinfection of the stock truck
  • transporting replacement stock if you were issued a Notice of Direction (NOD) to cull your original stock.

For more information about operational costs, talk to your farm systems manager.

You'll need to make a separate claim for each of the different types of losses you have incurred. You will have to complete the relevant claim form associated with the losses.

All claims should be submitted to MPI within one year of the date of loss. If you experience further losses after being paid compensation, you can still submit further claims.

Payment of compensation depends on you meeting certain conditions laid out in the Biosecurity Act. In order for the M. bovis Eradication Programme to pay compensation, we need to be able to support your loss. To do this, you will need to provide information that substantiates the type and amount of loss.

It’s a good idea to keep all the documents and records that can support the verification of your claim. These include paid invoices, statements, Farmland accounts, milk dockets, pasture records and contracts.

You also need to show you considered and took reasonable steps to mitigate (reduce or avoid) the loss. To do this, explain the steps you considered to mitigate your loss, and what steps you actually took. This may include making changes to farm operations to avoid losses or using alternative ways to generate income.

Compensation can only be paid for loss caused as a direct result of MPI’s exercise of powers. This could follow a Notice of Direction (NOD) to depopulate animals, or as a result of movement controls.

If you culled stock without direction from MPI, or had stock that were culled before any NOD was issued or movement controls began, you will be unlikely to meet the eligibility criteria set out in the Act.

For voluntary culls, you will need to provide evidence of those losses. MPI will look at compensation on a case-by-case basis.

Internal reassessment

If you don’t agree with the assessment of your claim, you can request an internal re-assessment. This option is available for up to 12 months after we’ve sent you a decision letter.

You can request an internal re-assessment by emailing CompensationCoordinator@mpi.govt.nz.

Independent review

If you’ve had your claim re-assessed internally and don’t agree with the re-assessment of your claim, you can request an independent review. This option is available for up to 3 months from the date of the letter advising the outcome of the re-assessment.

You can request an independent review by emailing Secretariat.Mbovis@mpi.govt.nz.