Developing the action plan
Development of the action plan began in 2023 with a review of previous strategies – identifying what worked well, what didn’t, and where progress had been made – so the action plan could build on existing thinking, successes, and achievements.
It progressed with broad input from across the system, including government, Māori, industry and business, researchers, non-government organisations, and communities.
The final plan was released in July 2025 along with a call to action, describing the intent of actions based on what people had said was needed.
Call-to-action document [PDF, 517 KB]
Clarifying the intent and scope of actions
In March 2026, the steering group hosted online workshops for 7 of the Tranche 1 actions. Workshops were aimed at people and organisations wanting to shape delivery of actions. Attendees made recommendations for improving the action descriptions from the call-to-action document and started to make connections with others leading work of common interest.
You can download a summary of workshop content and outputs
- 1 – Setting biosecurity system expectations and KPIs [PDF, 1.9 MB]
- 2 – Clarifying and enabling roles and responsibilities [PDF, 2 MB]
- 3 – Data integration, management and use [PDF, 2.1 MB]
- 4 – Managing aquatic pest and disease risk [PDF, 2.8 MB]
- 5 – Establishing a domestic emerging risk network [PDF, 1.6 MB]
- 7 – Widely accessible training tools [PDF, 1.8 MB]
- 9 – Developing prioritisation tools [PDF, 1.6 MB]
A hui is being planned for 'Action 15 – Connecting science and local knowledge', which has an emphasis on mātauranga.
Working with Māori
As kaitiaki, hapū, iwi and Māori are important contributors to the biosecurity system. Hapū and iwi customary practices, such as rāhui, along with iwi environmental plans and surveillance, have become an important part of biosecurity management in New Zealand.
Hapū, iwi and Māori have helped shape the draft action plan, including a Māori biosecurity experts' rōpū, who met 4 times between August 2023 and February 2024. They discussed how strategic direction could be improved to meet the needs of hapū, iwi and Māori and the biosecurity system.
The values the system is set to protect recognise the special relationship between hapū, iwi and Māori, their culture, traditions and ancestral lands, waters sites, wahi tapu, and taonga.
Planning is underway for a dedicated Māori all-action hui to continue to strengthen Māori participation and influence across delivery.