About Us

Overview

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand leads New Zealand's biosecurity efforts. Since its inception in November 2004, it has been designated a “whole of system” leadership role which covers:

• Economic
• Environmental
• Social and cultural
• and international trade and animal welfare responsibilities. 

Biosecurity New Zealand

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand leads our country’s biosecurity movement-one where every person plays a part in protecting our mountains, lakes, rivers, seas, native forests, farmlands and way of life.

Every year many thousands of visitors flock to our shores. They expect our environment to be clean, green and safe. Yet any one of them could jeopardise that by bringing pests or diseases across our borders.

At the same time, trade is thriving with products moving to and from markets around the world daily. Yet while we’re critically dependent on that success in the world market – it also comes with biosecurity threats. It’s a balancing act between protecting New Zealand and New Zealanders and encouraging the tourism and international trade that are vital to our economy.

It’s our place to make sure all New Zealanders, our natural resources, plants and animals are kept safe from the potential introduction of pests and diseases. We’re not alone in this task – our staff, partner organisations, government agencies, businesses exporting and importing goods, the general public, and of course international visitors, all play a role in helping keep New Zealand free from biosecurity threats. Our biosecurity matters greatly – to our health, our environment and our economy.

It's Worth Protecting

New Zealand is blessed with abundant food, fresh clean water, a strong productive sector and a healthy environment.

Pride in our environment, a love of the outdoors and our connection with our native plants, marine areas and wildlife are intrinsic features of our cultural identity and an important part of the way we portray ourselves to the rest of the world. 

Pests and diseases brought into New Zealand, deliberately or accidentally, could seriously damage our natural resources, threaten our economy, and undermine our way of life.

Many weeds and pests already established here continue to cause problems, including didymo and the varroa bee mite, requiring constant vigilance and ongoing control programmes. 

Whole industries, like forestry, horticulture and viticulture, can be seriously affected by microscopic plant diseases invisible to the naked eye.

Our challenges and opportunities 

Meeting New Zealanders’ increasing expectations for protection of economic, environmental, health and social opportunities from unwanted biosecurity pests and diseases.

• Managing fluctuating numbers of passengers and volumes of trade from increasingly diverse origins.
• Maintaining adequate levels of protection to maximise export opportunities while not unfairly hindering imports into New Zealand
• Identifying and adapting to emerging biological threats, including climate change. 
• Ensuring we have access to the right skill sets to deliver effective decisions and interventions.
• Finding more effective ways to deploy limited resources across the biosecurity system.
• Enabling stakeholders to take responsibility for managing biosecurity risks their activities create.
• Connecting with other agencies which have a diverse range of perspectives.
• Operating in an environment of greater scrutiny of our decisions.
• Ensuring that the new biosecurity business group is connected by a shared vision and strategy, has clear accountabilities, clear roles and responsibilities, and a strong business transformation capability.
• Ensuring that we involve and influence a wider range of ethnic communities such as Pacific Island and Asian communities.

To meet the challenges of the future, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand's structure consists of 10 structural units reporting to the Assistant Director-General. Further information is provided in the Structure, What is Biosecurity, Overview of MAF Biosecurity New Zealand and the Biosecurity System sections of our site