Monday 25 August 2003
A new era for New Zealand biosecurity
Today’s release by the Government of the Biosecurity Council’s biosecurity strategy and accompanying Cabinet decisions
heralds a new era for New Zealand’s biosecurity system, according to MAF’s Director-General Murray Sherwin.
“New Zealand’s biosecurity system is regarded world-wide as being leading-edge. But the report of the Biosecurity
Council has identified impediments to its performance and future development arising from fragmented leadership and
dispersed responsibility,” Murray Sherwin said.
“Government’s decision to assign overall leadership for the biosecurity system to the Ministry of Agriculture and
Forestry is exciting and a very significant responsibility for MAF. I am determined we will meet this challenge in full.
We will do so with the close collaboration of the other government agencies with interests and on-going responsibilities
in biosecurity, and with our local government and non-government stakeholders.
“I believe that this overall biosecurity leadership role is a logical fit for MAF. We have long experience, established
skills and capability in this area. We also have broader interests in the sustainable use and enhancement of our natural
resources that link tightly with these new biosecurity responsibilities.
“Biosecurity grew from a concern about potential damage to New Zealand’s economy from pests and diseases affecting our
livestock, crops and forests. The scope of biosecurity has over time evolved to include threats to indigenous flora and
fauna, the marine environment and human health. This broadening of scope requires the creation of new mechanisms to
achieve comprehensive biosecurity protection and consistency in our response to risks across the full spectrum of
biosecurity concerns,” he said.
“Although the Government has asked MAF to assume overall responsibility for the performance of the biosecurity system,
the Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Health and Department of Conservation will continue to have roles in biosecurity.
A Chief Executives’ Forum has been created to provide oversight on strategic matters and to monitor biosecurity system
performance. MAF will be seeking advice and the active participation in biosecurity matters of experts from those
agencies.
“A change management process has been initiated within MAF to equip the organisation to cope with this new biosecurity
role. This process is being led by MAF’s Deputy Director General Larry Fergusson,” Murray Sherwin said.
“We expect to have the major elements of this change management process completed by the early part of 2004. This will
involve establishing a work programme to implement today’s Cabinet decisions, setting up the various liaison and
consultative groups, defining roles and responsibilities and making appointments to key roles.
“The Biosecurity Council’s expectations of our biosecurity system are very challenging. It is fitting that high
standards are set because our nation’s economic performance, together with our environmental and health well-being
depend on meeting such standards. I am confident that MAF will do its part and we look forward to enlisting the support
of our four million fellow New Zealanders to meet those high expectations,” Murray Sherwin concluded.
ENDS