Biosecurity Strategy and Associated Documents

New Zealand's first biosecurity strategy, published in August 2003, follows a series of biosecurity system reviews, which have made it clear that while its biosecurity system is one of the best in the world, it is struggling to cope.

The strategy, written by the Biosecurity Council and fully endorsed by the Government, sets out an overall direction for biosecurity, and contains a detailed list of expectations for the next 5 - 10 years. Further detail on the strategy's implementation is contained in the Cabinet papers.

History of the Strategy

Download the Biosecurity Strategy

Companion Document

A companion document was distributed with the biosecurity strategy. It contains a summary of the findings and expectations of the strategy, and sets out the Government's agreed response and initial plan. more>>

Cabinet Papers

Four Cabinet papers were prepared in association with the biosecurity strategy. These papers outline the findings and recommendations of the strategy, and propose a Government response. The Cabinet papers address:

Overview and Cross Cutting Issues
This paper summarises the findings and expectations in the strategy, asks Cabinet to endorse these recommendations, and sets out the proposed Government response. more>>

Governance and Structural Arrangements
This paper proposes new governance arrangements to ensure a single strategic direction for biosecurity, and end-to-end management of the biosecurity system. more>>

Funding and Cost Recovery
This paper proposes high level changes to the funding and cost recovery arrangements used for biosecurity services. The objective of the proposed changes is to ensure greater consistency of approach to funding across the different biosecurity functions, and better alignment of those arrangements with the Government's broader objectives. more>>

Improvements to Systems and Capabilities
This paper seeks immediate new funding to implement improved risk management for imported sea containers, and signals that the Minister for Biosecurity will report back to the Cabinet with detailed proposals for additional urgent enhancements to the biosecurity system once further work to establish priorities has been completed. more>>

Decision Making Briefing Paper

This briefing paper, written for the Minister for Biosecurity, proposes the development and implementation of an integrating framework for prioritisation of biosecurity activities. more>>

Page last updated: 28 October 2009