History of Biosecurity Border Inspection in New Zealand Project

• The Project
• Historical Significance
• Professional Historians
• What will the Project Deliver?
• Updates
• To Register
• Submission Guidelines
• Contacts
• Who's Who

THE PROJECT

This project aims to capture the history of biosecurity border inspection in New Zealand.

It is intended to link with the commemoration of the 50^th anniversary of the then Port Agriculture Inspection Service. The formation of the service, which united New Zealand's animal and plant health inspectorial operations, was a significant milestone in the development of New Zealand's border inspection system. Its 50^th anniversary will be in 2010.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Preventing the entry of pests, diseases and unwanted species has been a significant aspect of New Zealand's social and economic history.

The country's geographic isolation, colonisation, primary industry based economy and modern transportation methods have influenced policy development and enforcement of quarantine controls at the border.

Modern day 'biosecurity' has evolved. The tangata whenua introduced food crops such as kumara, the English colonists brought many new species with them and later, through acclimatisation societies, made introductions in an endeavour to replicate 'Mother England'. New Zealand was a country focused on primary production and special measures were taken to protect the economy, especially pastoral farming. Later, arable farming, forestry and horticultural production were included. Most recently, aquaculture and New Zealand's marine environment have received biosecurity protection. Throughout the country's history, measures have been taken to protect people from pandemics, the introduction of exotic diseases and insect vectors.

The ever increasing importance of tourism requires a balance between facilitating visitors and protecting our environment. The future presents many new challenges such as climate change and the management of genetically modified organisms.

PROFESSIONAL HISTORIANS

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) has recognised the need to use professional historians at every opportunity in the project. Accordingly, it has contracted the Ministry for Culture & Heritage (MCH) to ensure that professional research standards are maintained, and that the products are an accurate and unbiased contribution to history.

WHAT WILL THE PROJECT DELIVER?

The history project is planned in phases. It will potentially deliver:

• A collection of oral histories (Initial Planned Phase). This will establish a library of recordings about the past in the words of participants who lived it. The opportunity exists to add to this collection in future years.
• Research and writing of a manuscript using existing archival material and that collected during the second phase of this project, including;
  • Photographs
  • Documents (letters, appointments etc.)
  • Press clippings
  • Written contributions (anecdotal stories)
  • Memorabilia
• Promoting the manuscript to publishers with a view to producing a coffee table book. Such a book would help promote biosecurity awareness among the general public. This publication would be a resource for staff induction and training. It would also provide a corporate gift for visiting dignitaries.
• Adapting the manuscript for a website. The site will be regularly updated to record future events. This resource will aid future academic research, study and provide ongoing accessibility by the biosecurity community, both within and outside New Zealand.
• Production of an interactive DVD. This will provide an educational resource that will be multilingual and targeted at a range of specific audiences.
• Establishment of a small museum to preserve, classify and archive both the project collection and interesting interceptions made at the border.

UPDATES

As this project develops, progress reports, notices, and achieved milestones will be reported on:

• Project Map Overview
• Update No. 1: 23 September 2008
• Update No. 2: 11 May 2009
• Update No. 3: 11 December 2009

TO REGISTER

To register and have your details added to the MAFBNZ History Project Database, download the REGISTRATION (26 KB) form. Email the form to history@maf.govt.nz or mail it to: MAFBNZ History Project, Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry, PO Box 2525, Wellington, NZ.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Our preference is that material be received in electronic format. This, however, is not a requirement and handwritten stories or hardcopy documents, press clippings and photographs are equally appreciated.

Care will be taken to identify contributors, label, preserve and care for all submitted material.

We will convert contributions to electronic format by typing or scanning for storage on disk, then return originals to you. Please allow eight weeks for return.

• Written stories are preferred as files saved in Microsoft Word. They can be sent on CD or attached to an email message and sent to history@maf.govt.nz with the "PERMISSION FOR USE (142 KB)" form also attached. This electronic form can be filled out on screen. Click on relevant boxes to select and type in information. When complete, save file for your records and print out a copy before signing the permission panel.
• Documents, Press Clippings and Photographs are preferred as TIFF images scanned to the highest quality, suitable for printing at 300-600 dpi if used for a printed publication.
• Items of memorabilia gifted to MAF Biosecurity New Zealand for the History Project should be posted or couriered to:
  • MAFBNZ History Project
    MAF Biosecurity New Zealand
    Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry
    Pastoral House
    25 The Terrace
    PO Box 2526
    WELLINGTON.
• Registered mail or track and trace couriers are recommended. Please ensure that care is taken when packaging to protect computer disks, documents, press clippings and photographs by placing them between stiff cardboard.

In some circumstances arrangements can be made to collect the above. Please email history@maf.govt.nz for advice.

Please complete a "PERMISSION FOR USE (142 KB)" form and include with your submission.

CONTACTS

Who's Who

Page last updated: 14 January 2010