Wilderlab takes top honour

The New Zealand Biosecurity Awards recognise organisations, volunteers, businesses, iwi, hapū, government, and tamariki around the country who are contributing to biosecurity – in our bush, our oceans and waterways, and in our backyards.

Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor says the Wilderlab’s innovative technology took out the Supreme Award because of its focus on innovation to protect against a range of biosecurity threats.

“Just a cupful of water is all it takes New Zealand company Wilderlab to find invasive pest species,” O’Connor says.

“The technology developed by Wilderlab detects genetic material in the environment, which means thousands of kilometres of New Zealand’s waterways are being monitored for tens of thousands of species every week,” he says.

O’Connor says early detection of invasive organisms means we can act quickly to locate and eradicate pest species.

Phillip Karaitiana was announced as the winner of the 2022 Minister’s Biosecurity Award.

The award recognises an individual, group or organisation that has contributed at least 10 years of continuous and outstanding service to biosecurity in New Zealand.

“Since 1970, Phillip Karaitiana has dedicated his career to protecting Wairoa and Gisborne from pests and diseases,” says O’Connor.

“From jumping on a horse and chasing rabbits in the early days to using drones and artificial intelligence now, Phillip has been unwavering in his commitment to his region.”

O’Connor says competition for the 2022 New Zealand Biosecurity Awards’ 10 categories was the toughest in the awards’ six-year history.

“The finalists and winners represent some of New Zealand’s most outstanding biosecurity leaders who are committed to protecting our unique environment from pests and diseases,” he says.

“They’re at the forefront of a wide variety of exceptional biosecurity-related projects.

“These include protecting hectares of iconic New Zealand landscape from wilding pines, to those galvanising thousands of city dwellers to remove plant and animal pests in their backyards, communities and schools.”

O’Connor says those recognised are stepping up to lead efforts to protect and preserve the environment, and the food and fibre sector.

“It takes all of us to protect what we’ve got, and these finalists are showing us all how it’s done, an how we can all play a part,” O’Connor says.

Winners

New Zealand Biosecurity Supreme Award: Wilderlab NZ Ltd – Wilderlab and the eDNA revolution in Aotearoa

Minister’s Biosecurity Award: Phillip Karaitiana – Gisborne District Council

Mondiale VGL Innovation Award: Wilderlab NZ Ltd – Wilderlab and the eDNA revolution in Aotearoa

BioHeritage Challenge Community Award: Whakatipu Wilding Conifer Group – Whakatipu Wilding Conifer Control Programme

New Zealand Biosecurity Māori Award: Te Arawa Lakes Trust – Hungatiaki Taiao/Biosecurity

New Zealand Biosecurity Kura (School) Award: Howick Schools’ Moth Plant Competition, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland

GIA Industry Award: Auckland Airport – Creation of a biosecurity culture to make biosecurity matter

Eagle Technology Local and Central Government Award: MPI – National Wilding Conifer Control Programme (WCCP)

New Zealand Biosecurity Award: Better Border Biosecurity (B3) – Better Border Security (B3) Research Collaboration

AsureQuality Emerging Leader Award: Ethan McCorming – Pest Free Howick Ward and Friends of Mangemangeroa