MPI defends cost of new biosecurity lab
The head of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity operation, Stuart Anderson, has defended the cost and the need for a Plant Healht and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) being built in Auckland.
The NZ Biosecurity Awards were launched by Minister for Biosecurity Damien O’Connor today.
O’Connor says the awards are a way to thank and shine a light on people and organisations protecting Aotearoa – in communities, businesses, science organisations, iwi and hapū, and central and local government.
“Biosecurity is our number one challenge because it is critical to our economic base and way of life. Recent reports show that only 2% of Kiwis feel a biosecurity breach would affect their lives – I think this level of awareness is changing and there’s a growing understanding that every New Zealander has personal responsibility for ensuring we maintain a resilient and strong biosecurity system.
“The awards kicked off last year and this year we’ve added three new categories: the Emerging Leader, Innovation and Science awards,” O’Connor says.
Finalists will be announced on October 12 and winners on Monday 12 November at an awards dinner in Auckland.
Entries are open until 31 August. Find out more at www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurityawards
The award categories are:
• New Zealand Biosecurity Community Award
• New Zealand Biosecurity Industry Award
• New Zealand Biosecurity Science Award
• New Zealand Biosecurity Emerging Leader Award
• New Zealand Biosecurity Supreme Award
• New Zealand Biosecurity Māori Award
• New Zealand Biosecurity Local and Central Government Award
• New Zealand Biosecurity Innovation Award
• Minister’s Biosecurity Award
