NZ winegrowers advance vineyard biosecurity in 2025
The year was marked by “progress, collaboration and reflection” in biosecurity, says New Zealand Winegrowers Biosecurity Advisor Jim Herdman.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is on the hunt for biosecurity champions as entries open for the 2022 New Zealand Biosecurity Awards.
The awards are designed to recognise and celebrate the contributions made across the country to protect against pests and diseases.
“It’s our way of honouring people and organisations across the motu who are contributing to biosecurity – in our communities, businesses, iwi and hapū, government, in the bush, our oceans and waterways, and in our backyards,” says Biosecurity deputy-director general Stuart Anderson.
He says that some New Zealanders aren’t aware that their work in their own backyards plays a critical role in the biosecurity system.
“From trapping pests like catfish, rats and stoats; to disease management in out forests, rivers and oceans; these are all important projects which strengthen our biosecurity system.”
“A strong biosecurity system takes all of us. We are grateful to receive continued support for these Awards from our fantastic sponsors – AsureQuality, Eagle Technology, Government Industry Agreement (GIA), Mondiale VGL and New Zealand’s Biological Heritage - we couldn’t do it without them,” says Anderson.
The impact of being a winner at the New Zealand Biosecurity Awards goes beyond the recognition and celebration on the Awards night, according to 2021 Supreme Winner Xerra Earth Observation Institute.
“The recognition of Starboard’s work through these awards has been enormously motivating to continue our journey towards science-based benefits for all Aotearoa,” says Xerra programme leader Moritz Lehman.
“Biosecurity challenges need a team approach and we sincerely thank the intensive co-development support from staff at Biosecurity New Zealand who now use our tool to help protect our maritime border from invasive species.”
The New Zealand Biosecurity Awards categories are:
Entries close 5pm, 31 July 2022.
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) has released its 2026 election manifesto, outlining priorities to support the sector’s growth, resilience, and contribution to New Zealand’s food security and export revenue.
Farmers have voted to continue the Milksolids Levy that funds DairyNZ.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell has resigned after eight years in the role.
Matt McRae, a farmer from Mokoreta in Southland who runs a sheep, beef and dairy support business alongside a sheep stud, has been elected to the Beef +Lamb NZ Board as a farmer director.
Ravensdown's next evolution in smart farming technology, HawkEye Pro, was awarded the Technology Section Award at the Southern Field Days Farm Innovation Awards in February 2026.
While mariners may recognise a “dog watch” as a two-hour shift on a ship, the Good Dog Work Watch is quite a different concept and the clever creation of Southland siblings Grace (9) and Archer Brown (7), both pupils at Riverton Primary School.

OPINION: Election years are usually regarded as the silly season, but a mate of the Hound reckons 2026 is shaping…
OPINION: If farmers poured just a few litres of some pollutant into a stream, the Green Party and the wider…