Editorial - A big year for MAF Biosecurity New Zealand
Barry O'Neil
To paraphrase Harold Wilson, a year is a long time in biosecurity, and this year has been a particularly full one for MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ). In this, the final issue of Biosecurity for 2007 I'd like to touch on some of the year's highlights and the issues we've faced.
For our own organisation, the most significant day of the year was 1 July, when Biosecurity New Zealand and the MAF Quarantine Service merged to become MAFBNZ. The change has brought together policy, standard setting and operational functions into a grouping that strengthens our lead agency role and gives real impetus to the vision of the 2003 Biosecurity Strategy.
Throughout the year, work has continued on other 'infrastructure' changes to ensure we are deploying our resources as effectively as possible, and in places where they are needed. The Biosecurity Science Strategy, for example, has helped us identify the areas where we need to invest in the science that will underpin our policies and standards and to recognise the greatest risks to our biosecurity.
Significant contribution
The science carried out within, and on behalf of, MAFBNZ comprises a significant proportion of New Zealand's research effort. Much of this work has a low public profile, but makes a significant contribution to our economy nonetheless. Scientists at the Animal Health Laboratory of the Investigation and Diagnostic Centre – Wallaceville, for example, developed a ground-breaking new molecular test for an important disease of cattle. This opened the way for a resumption of bovine semen exports to Europe – a specialised but valuable business.
IDC – Wallaceville, in Upper Hutt, is the site for an exciting new development that gathered pace during 2007: the establishment of a National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious Disease. The combined resources of MAFBNZ, AgResearch, ESR and AsureQuality will create wonderful synergies at this centre of science excellence.
Surveillance strategies
We also have a team developing a Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy to help ensure our monitoring is done in the right places, using the best methods, resources, skills and systems. At the same time, we are working on resources such as our knowledge base and the skills of our people, to keep pace with the demands of our expanding role.
Earlier this year, Biosecurity focused on careers and training in biosecurity. This feature highlighted just how much biosecurity is emerging as a discipline in its own right. Our educational institutions are now responding to the demand for the kinds of people New Zealand's biosecurity effort needs: scientists, risk analysts, policy makers, specialists in animal law, quarantine staff, frontline surveillance and pest management staff and many more.
Biosecurity incursions are a fact of life, and at any one time we may be responding to literally dozens of cases where a new organism has made an unscheduled arrival. In some cases, an incursion is over quickly. In other cases, such as that of didymo or the sea squirt Styela clava, the emphasis has shifted from eradication to containment and management.
Many incursion responses or pest management programmes involve widespread community consultation, education and social marketing. Ensuring we consult in a meaningful way, and that we can get the right information to people such as recreational water users – yachties and anglers for example – is another strand of our work that developed depth during the year.
Animal welfare is another important part of our work. The team within MAFBNZ has grown its capability this year as the implementation of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 continues. The group has developed strong linkages within MAFBNZ and other key organisations with an interest in animal health and welfare. This involvement also extends internationally, with the group leading our involvement in the World Organisation for Animal Health animal welfare initiative and European Union Welfare Quality project, among others.
This has been only a small sampling of the work we have been involved with during 2007. Next year promises to be just as exciting as our organisation settles into its new shape, and the rollout of our strategies continues.
Biosecurity is an important vehicle to communicate this work to our stakeholder groups, and I would like to thank the many of you who have supported and contributed to the magazine. Your input is always very welcome.
And, finally, to all our readers, our best wishes for a happy and safe Christmas, and a prosperous year ahead.
- Barry O'Neil
Assistant Director-General
MAFBNZ
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Page last updated: 30 April 2008