New biosecurity response model

A smarter way of managing biosecurity responses

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) is introducing a new way of managing responses to risk organisms.

The new response system is designed to help MAFBNZ better manage responses. It is focused on effective and efficient decision-making and ensuring sufficient capacity and skills. It uses MAFBNZ's decision-making framework and is aligned with the whole-of-government Coordinated Incident Management Response System (CIMS)1 approach.

Why change?

MAFBNZ's traditional ‘all hands on deck' way of managing responses to biosecurity risks has worked well for New Zealand. However, there is always room for improvement.

As well as managing ongoing local risks, growth in trade and travel is constantly increasing the probability of incursions and climate change is extending the range of organisms that may pose a biosecurity risk.

Increasing biosecurity risks, and the growing pressure these place on staff and resources, mean a better response management system is needed to give stakeholders and MAFBNZ consistency and certainty.

What's new?

The most significant change is the move to a single, generic management approach covering all sectors and replacing animal-, plant-, forestry- and marine-focused policies. It covers both new to New Zealand and existing risk organisms. The new response system can be scaled up or down as appropriate for almost any situation.

The new response system is aligned to the new response policy, Preparing for and responding to risk organisms, and sets out what the Crown will do and what people can expect in respect of responses to pests and diseases (risk organisms). It reaffirms MAFBNZ's leadership role, while anticipating that there other stakeholders who will participate in a response.

Underpinning principles

  • Risk-based decision making: decisions made based on risks to the values of New Zealand (economic, environmental, socio-cultural, human health) at each stage of the response.
  • Whole-of-government approach: follows the Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS) approach.
  • Scalable and consistent: response phases and core management approach are the same for a large response as for a small response.
  • Project management: underpins the approach with a focus on planning the work and working to the to plan.
  • A response organisation structure dictated by the work: organisation charts are based on response activities, not on role-holders; this allows responses to be easily scaled up or down.
  • Activities: defined by the work that is required to be completed, not by the responsibilities of role-holders.

Irrespective of the approach, it is people working well together who achieve results.

Good management processes help people do their job well.

What does this mean for stakeholders?

MAFBNZ is committed to clear and timely communication, consultation and liaison with stakeholders (e.g., government agencies, regional councils and other local government bodies, industry, environmental groups and the public).

For people with a particular interest in biosecurity, the new system will support greater opportunities for early and ongoing involvement in responses and will meet increasing expectations for:

  • timely, transparent, information-based decision-making
  • response programmes that meet their objectives and performance measures
  • effective management of response programmes
  • stakeholders having confidence in the response system, making useful contributions and supporting the system
  • enhancing the response system over time.

To achieve this, the new system provides MAFBNZ with well-defined and accessible response processes, systems to support the technical side of the new processes, and enhanced training and support for staff and managers.

When will the new system go live?

MAFBNZ will be phasing in the new system from the beginning of 2008. A successful simulation exercise was held in late 2007 as a first in-house test and pilots involving real-life responses began in early 2008. All responses will be managed under the new system by June 2008.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand is looking forward to working with stakeholders over the coming months to ensure the success of the new Response System.

1 IMS is an approach which allows various organisations to work closely together using common management structures, functions and language, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordinated_Incident_Management_System (offsite link to en.wikipedia.org)

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Page last updated: 30 April 2008