News for 2010

Today’s launch by New Zealand Customs Service and MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) of a new IT-based application is the latest move in an ongoing programme which sees the two agencies working closer together.

NAIT and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), announced today that they have entered into discussions with the Australian National Livestock Identification System Limited (NLIS Ltd) regarding the information system that will support New Zealand's National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme.

Preliminary test results have identified some of the factors involved in the current increase in deaths of young oysters on upper North Island marine farms, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Response Manager Dr Richard Norman says.

The New Zealand Oyster Industry Association for Aquaculture New Zealand and MAF Biosecurity New Zealand are working together to investigate unexplained juvenile Pacific Oyster deaths on marine farms in the upper North Island.

The Animal Welfare (Pigs) Code of Welfare 2010, released today by the Minister of Agriculture, encourages all those responsible for pigs to adopt the highest standards of husbandry, care and handling.

Everyone heading out to enjoy the bush this summer is being asked to do their bit to help stop the spread of kauri dieback, a disease attacking kauri trees.

The teaching team in the Department of Natural Sciences at Auckland’s Unitec has been selected as the recipient of the 2010 National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) Three Rs award.

Napier residents may wonder if their Council is failing to keep the City beautiful this summer, with around 25 grassland areas being fenced off and left unmown.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAF) announced this afternoon that samples of New Zealand pollen collected from the Bay of Plenty and South Auckland have tested positive for the bacterial kiwifruit vine disease, Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae (Psa). This pollen was collected in 2009 and 2010.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) this morning confirms that it has received positive test results for the presence of the bacterial disease Psa on properties outside of the Te Puke area.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAF) requests members of the public and media representatives stay away from kiwifruit orchards as it continues investigations following the confirmation of the bacterial kiwifruit vine disease, Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae (Psa) in vines at a Bay of Plenty orchard.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) is investigating a report of symptoms of disease on kiwifruit vines on a North Island kiwifruit orchard.  A preliminary test has suggested that a strain of the bacterial kiwifruit vine disease, Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae (Psa), may be present on some vines on the orchard.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAF) has tonight received the results of sequence testing of bacteria isolates which confirms that Pseudomonas syringae pv. Actinidiae (Psa) is present on a number of vines in a Bay of Plenty orchard.

Australia has signed up to a New Zealand-initiated clean container system recognised internationally as representing best practice in biosecurity risk management. 

Some farm and herd owner information held by the Animal Health Board (AHB) will shortly be added to the Ministry of Agriculture’s (MAF) national rural property register, following consultation with cattle and deer farmers.

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) has completed a review of the 2003 code of welfare for broiler (meat) chickens and a draft code has been released today for public consultation.

A Coromandel farm owner and property developer, and his farm worker, have been convicted of deliberately breaching a Court imposed Disqualification Order under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

Notification of the numbers of animals used in research, testing and teaching was released today in the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) Annual Report.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ), in partnership with Northland Regional Council, Auckland Regional Council and the Department of Conservation, are requesting help to find the whereabouts of the invasive plant bat-wing passion flower.

A new mobile x-ray machine jointly developed by MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) and an Otahuhu   sheet-metal company started work this week in the Auckland area. 

The justice system has today sent a clear signal to an Auckland scientist that flouting biosecurity rules won’t be tolerated.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) begins work today with Far North iwi to clear a marine pest sea squirt from some of New Zealand’s most culturally significant coastal sites in Northland.

Six new MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) detector dogs started work this week at Auckland and Christchurch airports and the International Mail Centre in Auckland.

Two horticulturists, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges related to the illegal importation of the predatory mirid bug, Macrolophus pygmaeus, appeared in the Auckland District Court today for sentencing.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) is planning proactive animal welfare work in the bobby calf area this season, starting Monday.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) has extended its contract with a French manufacturer of Foot and Mouth (FMD) disease antigen and vaccine.

The Sheep and Beef Cattle Code of Welfare, issued today by the Minister of Agriculture, encourages all farmers to adopt the highest standards of husbandry, care and handling. Developed by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), the code applies to all sheep and beef cattle farmed for meat rather than being milked and covers all aspects of stock management.

The Minister for Biosecurity has approved the release the Pest Management Proposed National Plan of Action 2010 – 2035 for public consultation.

Prime Minister John Key and China’s Vice President Xi Jingping will witness the signing of a bilateral Arrangement at a ceremony on Friday 18 June at Government House in Auckland. The Arrangement will establish a co-operative Work Plan for the development of effective and efficient means of electronic transfer of official phytosanitary assurances (certification data) between New Zealand and China.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) has completed its investigation into the discovery late last year of suspected genetically modified Arabidopsis thaliana plants found growing just outside a containment glasshouse on the Plant & Food Research Ltd site at Lincoln.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand's (MAFBNZ) programme to rid New Zealand waters of the introduced marine pest the Mediterranean fanworm (Sabella spallanzanii) has been called off, with new information showing the pest is too widespread to eradicate.

All dog owners will be interested in the minimum standards of care and recommended best practices outlined in the Animal Welfare (Dogs) Code of Welfare 2010 issued today by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC).

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) issued its 2009 Annual Report today.

The Animal Welfare (Commercial Slaughter) Code of Welfare 2010, issued today by the Minister of Agriculture, encourages all those involved in the commercial slaughter of animals to adopt welfare requirements to ensure animals are humanely killed.

Running a poultry farm in a way that caused suffering and distress to animals in his care has landed an Auckland poultry farmer in prison and cost him the right to own broiler hens for 10 years.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) has successfully intercepted live cucumber fruit fly eggs (Bactrocera cucumis) on a consignment of produce from Australia this week.

A Cambodian woman arriving at Auckland Airport from Singapore on Saturday 8 May was found smuggling what is suspected to be a tiger pizzle (penis) and a tiger gallbladder.

Minimum standards of animal welfare and recommended best practices for everyone responsible for farmed goats are outlined in a draft code of welfare released for consultation by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) today.

MAF received the report of the Independent Review Panel on Provisional Import Health Standards for Pig Meat on the 31^st of March 2010.

On Tuesday 20^th of April 2010 the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, notified the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Miyazaki, western Japan.

Stock agent and trader Neville Clark was today sentenced in the Gisborne District Court for ill-treating sheep in his ownership and care. He was fined $11,000, and ordered to pay $9,700 in costs.

New Zealand's biosecurity will be strengthened when the instant fine penalty for border declaration infringements doubles from 22 April 2010.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) announced today that eradication of the Hadda beetle would not be feasible. Investigations have found the beetle is widespread across central Auckland and the maturity of the beetles indicates that it may have been in New Zealand since 2006.

To many trappers, leg-hold traps are an essential tool for pest management. MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) is reminding users of the rules around their use.

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) has completed a review of the Animal Welfare (Pigs) Code of Welfare 2005 and a draft code has been released today for public consultation.

New Zealand's ability to manage a major disease outbreak was strengthened today with the opening of a new multipurpose facility at the National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious Disease (NCBID) at Wallaceville, Upper Hutt.

The Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare, issued today by the Minister of Agriculture, encourages all farmers to adopt the highest standards of husbandry, care and handling. It sets out general principles of care and will be enhanced by industry good practice guidelines.

Didymo (Didymosphenia geminata) has been confirmed in the Waimakariri River, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) announced today.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand has identified the presence of Hadda beetles in Dove -Myer Robinson Park, along Tamaki Drive and the Auckland Domain in Auckland.

Rotorua farmer Mark Spitz was yesterday convicted in the Rotorua District Court on multiple counts of ill-treatment to farm animals in his care. Mr Spitz was sentenced to 250 hours community service and ordered to pay $9340 in reparations.