Why treaty bill is still relevant
OPINION: Last month marked the beginning of the political year, beginning with Waitangi Day.
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says that events over the last few weeks have highlighted the importance of a strong biosecurity system.
He says staff at the border are increasingly vigilant following confirmation from German authorities of the country’s first outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in nearly 40 years on Friday in a herd of water buffalo outside Berlin.
“New Zealand recognises the European Union’s protocols to manage FMD are in line with international standards and equivalent to New Zealand’s,” Hoggard says.
He says German authorities have notified the World Organisation for Animal Health and have implemented appropriate measures to manage the risks, including a restricted zone for animals and animal products as well as biosecurity measures, movement controls, the destruction of affected animals and products, disinfection, and surveillance.
“This is why we take biosecurity very seriously here in New Zealand,” Hoggard says.
This summer has proven a busy one for Biosecurity New Zealand staff.
In December, a single case of high pathogenicity avian influenza on an Otago poultry farm led to decontamination efforts which are still continuing.
This month has seen the discovery of a fruit fly in South Auckland where biosecurity controls remain in place.
“It’s a good reminder for all New Zealanders about how vital biosecurity is to us,” Hoggard says. “Incursions of pests and diseases don’t take a break and that’s why our biosecurity system doesn’t sleep.”
At this stage there are no concerns regarding products imported into New Zealand from Germany.
OPINION: As of last Thursday, five regions – Taranaki, Northland, Waikato, Horizons and Marlborough-Tasman – had been declared medium-scale adverse events.
Two new Awards have been developed for the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) programme that will help some farmers on their journey to farm ownership.
The winner of the 2025 Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa Dairy Industry Awards enjoys the variety of work farming offers and the ability to improve each season.
A company growing and processing seaweed with known methane-busting properties at a facility in Bluff is expanding internationally but New Zealand cattle farmers won't be getting the product anytime soon.
Through its new partnership with New Zealand Landcare Trust, Fonterra has committed to funding ten $25,000 grants for wetland restoration in communities across the country.
The chair of the Dairy Environmental Leaders (DEL) says the country's dairy farmers are at the forefront of environmental management.
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