Why New Zealand needs an effective biosecurity system
Biosecurity is about keeping out, getting rid of, or managing pests and diseases that threaten New Zealand. It helps protect our:
- our economy
- native plants and animals
- land, rivers, and oceans
- culture, health, and lifestyles.
New Zealand’s biosecurity system comprises many parts to manage risks offshore, at the border, and within New Zealand. Those parts include people, tools, technology, processes, and rules.
While New Zealand’s system is working well, biosecurity threats are growing in scale and complexity. Risk pathways (the ways new and unwanted pests and diseases can get here), along with climate, are changing.
There is increasing pressure from both new and established pests and diseases.
A shared view on the future of New Zealand’s biosecurity and a way to identify agreed priorities was needed.
The new shared action plan will help people and organisations across the biosecurity system work together more effectively.
Biosecurity system action plan [PDF, 350 KB]
How the 'Biosecurity system action plan' was created
To build this plan, Biosecurity New Zealand looked at former strategies, including the 2003 strategy ('Tiakina Aotearoa – Protect New Zealand') and the 2016 strategy ('Biosecurity 2025'), and identified what worked and what didn't.
Biosecurity New Zealand also talked to many people, including:
- representatives from local, regional, and central government
- Māori biosecurity experts
- primary industry leaders
- environmental groups, scientists and researchers, and non-governmental agencies
- young people.
We used this to create a short and focused plan with clear goals and priority actions.
The aim is to deliver timely system improvements where they are needed most and make the best use of existing resources.
The plan was developed with input from a broad range of biosecurity system participants – including government, Māori, industry and business, researchers, non-government organisations, and communities. It is owned by those committed to leading and helping deliver actions.
Delivering the action plan
The 'Biosecurity system action plan' is a shared commitment to strengthen New Zealand’s biosecurity system. To make it a reality, people and organisations will need to work together, sharing their skills, time, and resources.
It will be delivered in 2 tranches with significant progress expected by 2030. Tranche 1 actions are the immediate priority and will be the initial focus of coordination. Tranche 2 actions remain important, and can start now, but coordination will be lighter until Tranche 1 is well underway.
Actions for tranche 1:
- 1 – Setting biosecurity system expectations and KPIs.
- 2 – Clarifying and enabling roles and responsibilities.
- 3 – Data integration, management and use.
- 4 – Managing aquatic pest and disease risk.
- 5 – Establishing a domestic emerging risk network.
- 7 – Widely accessible training tools.
- 9 – Developing prioritisation tools.
- 15 – Strengthening connections between science and local knowledge.
Actions for tranche 2:
- 6 – Building on successful local and regional initiatives.
- 8 – Building on importer, exporter and grower initiatives.
- 10 – Understanding social and cultural impacts.
- 11 – Developing a long-term investment plan for infrastructure.
- 12 – Simplifying industry biosecurity levies.
- 13 – Effective uptake of new and emerging technologies.
- 14 – Addressing major biosecurity challenges.
- 16 – Expanding control tools.
How you can get involved
Workshops start in early 2026.
- February: Online introductory sessions to outline the plan and how people can work together to deliver it.
- March: Online action-specific workshops to confirm roles, delivery approaches, and connect people and projects.
If you’d like to register your interest, email us at biosecurityactionplan@mpi.govt.nz
Want more details?
Have a read of this 'call to action' document which contains more information on the intent behind each of the actions:
