On this page
We want a resilient biosecurity system
We are seeking feedback on a refreshed biosecurity system strategy. A new strategy will ensure Aotearoa New Zealand continues to achieve our biosecurity outcomes and aspirations. We want to build on the approach we took with Biosecurity 2025. This will help us deliver a more resilient biosecurity system.
New Zealand places significant importance on biosecurity. It helps us to protect our native flora and fauna, whenua, freshwater and marine environments, as well as our culture, 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 and technology, processes, and regulatory activities.
We all have a valuable role to play in supporting our biosecurity. The intent is that this national strategy will help us to 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 are changing, as is the climate, and there is pressure from established pests. In this complex environment, a shared view on strategic direction and a mechanism to determine strategic priorities becomes even more important.
It is timely to review the Biosecurity 2025 strategy for our biosecurity system. There is a high level of enthusiasm for a refresh amongst stakeholders and Treaty of Waitangi partners.
What we have done so far
- In 2021, Biosecurity New Zealand looked at the strategy for the biosecurity system to identify any gaps.
- We established a think tank group – the Biosecurity System Strategy Working Group (BSWG). The group is a non-representative group of knowledgeable people from across the biosecurity system – to develop and test ideas for a refreshed strategy.
- We reviewed previous strategies and their deliverables, such as Biosecurity 2025 and the 2003 biosecurity strategy.
- We undertook an analysis to ensure that key aspects from previous system strategies were retained and updated to fit the current state.
- We received feedback during initial engagement with stakeholders, including the New Zealand Biosecurity Forum held on 31 October 2022.
Summary of submissions following the NZ Biosecurity Forum held on 31 October 2022 [PDF, 322 KB]
Our refreshed biosecurity system draft strategy
We have created the draft strategy and now we want feedback from everyone across the biosecurity system.
This strategy will:
- inform the overall strategic direction for biosecurity in New Zealand
- help us to work more effectively across the system with our multiple partners and stakeholders
- provide a shared platform to advance more detailed roadmap development.
It sets out a new vision and mission for the biosecurity system and identifies 6 key strategic priority areas (pou) for the system to operate more effectively. The strategy needs a focus on implementation if it is to be both successful and measurable.
We are interested in your thoughts as to how the framework could be implemented. One option could be to create a separate organisation that would be responsible for measuring progress and ensuring engagement across the system.
Draft biosecurity system strategy paper [PDF, 6.4 MB]
A one-page summary of the draft framework is also available.
One-page summary [PDF, 1.6 MB]
We want to hear from you
Between late April and June 2023 we are seeking your feedback on the draft strategy through a series of online workshops.
Registration for the workshops closed in February. If you missed registering but would like to attend, email us before 26 April at thisisus@mpi.govt.nz
We will be holding 6 workshops, one for each of the 6 pou (priority areas).
We will consolidate feedback received from the workshops and plan to formally consult on the strategy in late 2023. We're planning to finalise and release the strategy early in 2024.
Who to contact
If you have any questions about the strategy or engagement, email thisisus@mpi.govt.nz
