OSPRI CEO resigns
OSPRI is searching for a new chief executive following the decision by Steve Stuart to resign after a five-year tenure.
The National Policy Direction for Pest Management has come into effect.
MPI’s director of biosecurity and animal welfare policy, Julie Collins, says established pests are estimated to cost New Zealand’s primary sector up to $3.3 billion annually.
“Even small improvements to New Zealand’s pest management system could save millions of dollars in the long term.”
“The National Direction will support national and regional management of challenging pest issues such as wilding conifers, by ensuring consistent approaches to the way rules are set across New Zealand and that landowner obligations are clearly signalled and underpinned by robust analysis.”
“The National Direction sets overarching requirements for national and regional pest and pathway management plans, and small-scale management programmes. It will ensure that these plans and programmes across New Zealand are clear and consistent, and provide the best value.”
National and regional pest management plans provide significant benefits for New Zealand. For example, the national pest management plan for bovine tuberculosis helps protect New Zealand’s dairy, beef and deer production, and enhances New Zealand’s reputation as a responsible producer of dairy and red meat products.
The plan has resulted in bovine tuberculosis levels in deer and cattle herds being the lowest ever reported.
The National Direction will also require all landowners in New Zealand, regardless of tenure, to manage pests spilling across boundaries onto neighbouring properties.
Those who will be directly affected by the National Direction include all regional councils and Kiwifruit Vine Health, the National Beekeepers Association, and OSPRI New Zealand. All these organisations have regional and national plans that manage pests and diseases that affect New Zealand.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.