NZ nears Mycoplasma bovis eradication milestone
A major milestone on New Zealand's unique journey to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis could come before the end of this year.
Twelve new frontline border staff will help New Zealand's biosecurity defences stay strong, says MPI.
The new staff will receive their quarantine inspector warrants at a ceremony today in Christchurch.
The graduation follows the warranting of 43 new inspectors in December and a recent announcement by Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy that MPI will recruit 30 new quarantine inspectors this year.
"The new inspectors and upcoming recruitment programme will ensure that the biosecurity frontline remains fully staffed and isn't affected by normal resignations and retirement," says Steve Gilbert, MPI director, border clearance services.
"Biosecurity is vitally important to New Zealand and its primary industries."
The warranting ceremony follows more than three months of intensive training for the new recruits. The warrants will allow them to exercise a range of powers under the Biosecurity Act 1993 to check passengers and goods for biosecurity risk items.
Two of the new inspectors will be based in Wellington, one in Queenstown and remainder in Christchurch. Two of the 12 will undergo further training as detector dog handlers.
A brilliant result and great news for growers and regional economies. That's how horticulture sector leaders are describing the news that sector exports for the year ended June 30 will reach $8.4 billion - an increase of 19% on last year and is forecast to hit close to $10 billion in 2029.
Funding is proving crucial for predator control despite a broken model reliant on the goodwill of volunteers.
A major milestone on New Zealand's unique journey to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis could come before the end of this year.
We're working through it, and we'll get to it.
The debate around New Zealand's future in the Paris Agreement is heating up.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.