Displaying items by tag: Biosecurity

Don’t worry about it but just be aware - that’s the message from Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director-general Ray Smith as the H5N1 strain of bird flu is found in Australia.

Environment Southland is calling on residents to be vigilant and check their properties after a new Old Man's Beard site was discovered near Dipton.

Classified as an unwanted organism under the Biosecurity Act, the invasive weed velvetleaf can be resistant to many herbicides, making it difficult to control, while statistics note it has the potential to reduce yields by up to 70%.

According to new research, industry leaders have ranked world-class biodiversity as the number one priority for the 16th year in a row.

The year was marked by “progress, collaboration and reflection” in biosecurity, says New Zealand Winegrowers Biosecurity Advisor Jim Herdman.

OPINION: MPI's response to the yellow-legged hornet has received a mixed report card from New Zealand Beekeeping Inc (NZBI), with praise for the Ministry's expansion of response funding and front-line efforts in Auckland, but a sting in the tail - criticising MPI for not focusing enough on regions outside the big smoke.

Fruit growers and exporters are worried following the discovery of a male Queensland fruit fly in Auckland this week.

Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) is an annual broad-leaved herb, originating in China, that can grow between 1 and 2.5 metres tall, with large heart-shaped leaves and yellow-orange flowers.

Biosecurity New Zealand says Kiwis should continue to keep an eye out for yellow-legged hornets (Vespa velutina) over the holiday season.

Dr Ed Massey is General Manager Sustainability at New Zealand Winegrowers.