Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand is leading the implementation of the Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy 2020 (the strategy) which will change the way surveillance is led, planned, delivered and communicated.
Surveillance Needs, Prioritisation and Decision Making
In workshops held between June and August 2010, stakeholders identified biosecurity surveillance needs that were currently not being met. An analysis of these needs is now available [see link below]. MAFBNZ is now working with tangata whenua to gather surveillance needs that relate to Maori interests. The first of two wananga (workshops) was held in November and the second is planned for March 2011. Maori attendees were chosen for their technical skills and experience relating to environmental matters and with geographical representation across New Zealand to provide a Maori perspective rather than representing their specific iwi. An update to our earlier analysis of needs will be provided mid 2011 following completion of our work with tangata whenua.
The development of the Prioritisation System is nearing completion and is due for final testing within MAFBNZ post border in early 2011. It has been designed to improve transparency and consistency in approaches to prioritisation and decision making. Incorporating this system into MAFBNZ's post border planning process will ensure MAFBNZ achieves a balanced workplan by targeting resources to the most important work first but allowing opportunities for other discretionary work to be included. Longer term it is intended that this system may be used by anyone working in the biosecurity system to support decision making.
The Surveillance Needs, Prioritisation and Decision Making work is part of Actions 1 and 5 of the Strategy.
New and emerging risks capability
The Surveillance group has almost completed a comprehensive investigation and analysis of sources of emerging risk information within MAFBNZ that input into the surveillance function. In March 2011, we will review this analysis with the Biosecurity Surveillance Committee to explore how external to MAFBNZ stakeholders may access or contribute to this emerging risk capability and/or comment on whether the current MAFBNZ capability is fit-for-purpose. This is Action 3.1 of the Strategy.
International opportunities for engaging in biosecurity surveillance
Planning is underway to do a stocktake in early 2011 of MAFBNZ's current involvement in the international biosecurity surveillance arena. Most of the current surveillance activity relates to mandatory trade-related requirements. The aim with the stocktake is to identify and prioritise other value-add opportunities that MAF should consider being involved in future. This is Action 3.2 of the Strategy.
Surveillance Activity Selection Tool
MAFBNZ is working on a tool that will assist stakeholders to choose the best method for delivering their surveillance activity. Effort to date has focussed on establishing criteria that will help the user select the elements critical to their activity. This is Action 4.4 of the Strategy.
Tools to Deliver Surveillance Efficiently
Currently MAFBNZ is mapping its internal surveillance activity processes with a view to identifying any gaps that may need to be filled. Long-term it is anticipated that the outputs will be made available to assist anyone who wishes to deliver efficient biosecurity surveillance. This is Action 4.5 of the Strategy.
Enhancing our reporting of biosecurity risks
Research on the barriers to reporting pests and diseases was conducted in the first half of 2010. Quantitative and qualitative telephone interviews were conducted with a sample of farmers and growers. Analysis of the results suggested that further research on intermediaries was necessary i.e., those people that farmers and growers would call first if they wanted advice on an unusual pest or disease. Results from this survey will inform a suite of activities by MAFBNZ to enhance reporting of potential biosecurity risks by reducing barriers to reporting. This is Action 4.8 of the Strategy.
Governance
Two advisory groups have been established as part of a coalition responsible for guiding the Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy implementation to ensure the vision is achieved and change is implemented. ‘The internal group’ represents MAFBNZ business groups and members responsible for aligning project outcomes with strategic goals, and managing resources to successfully realise the benefits into the surveillance and biosecurity systems. The external advisory group known as ‘The Biosecurity Surveillance Committee’ provides broad representation across the sectors involved or impacted by biosecurity and focuses on the implementation of the strategy within the biosecurity system. Both advisory groups will support the project management team who are responsible for delivering the work.
Biosecurity Surveillance Committee members
| Name | Representative of: |
| Anthony Olsen | Maori interests |
| Doug Lush | Government – Health |
| Eric Hillerton | Industry – Animals |
| Erik Van Eyndhoven | Government – Environment/Conservation |
| Glen Mackie | Industry – Plants (Forests/Horticulture) |
| Graeme Inglis | Science and Marine |
| John Simmons | Regional Councils |
| Brendan Gould | Government – Project Sponsor |
| David Hayes | Government – Project Owner |
| Richard Witehira | Maori interests |
| Sara Khaling-Rai | Government – Project Manager |
Work progress to date
| Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy Implementation Actions | ||
| Action | Description | Status |
| 1 | New Zealand’s needs for biosecurity surveillance will be identified. | Started |
| 2 | Performance monitoring and reporting will be enhanced across the biosecurity surveillance system. | Planning |
| 3 | New Zealand will increase the benefit obtained from involvement in the global biosecurity community. | Started |
| 4 | Participation in the biosecurity surveillance system will be improved. | Started |
| 5 | Transparent criteria will be determined and applied in biosecurity decision making amongst surveillance participants and partners. | Almost complete |
| 6 | Opportunities for improving the management of biosecurity surveillance information will be investigated and implemented where appropriate. | Planning |
| 7 | Appropriate governance arrangements to drive, guide and monitor the implementation of the Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy will be established. | Complete |
| Key Documents – available from our website | Download |
| Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy 2020 | Download  (6054 KB) |
| Surveillance Needs Analysis 2010 - draft | Download (195 KB) |
When documents are available for public viewing or comment, you may find them here.
Any other questions?
Please contact us at NZBiosecuritySurveillance@maf.govt.nz
Do you want to know what we really do for a day job!
Then sign up to receive our online Surveillance Publication.
Surveillance quarterly (used to be Surveillance Magazine) is an online, down loadable publication produced by the Surveillance Group, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand. This publication was originally full of information on topics of relevance to New Zealand's animal disease surveillance and animal health status. From March 2011 onwards, the next publication will also include other surveillance activities related to the marine, freshwater, plants and forestry and environmental areas that the Surveillance Group also manages.
To subscribe to the publication online:
Do you want to know what we really do for a day job! Then sign up to receive our online Surveillance Publication. Surveillance quarterly (used to be Surveillance Magazine) is an online, down loadable publication produced by the Surveillance Group, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand. This publication was originally full of information on topics of relevance to New Zealand's animal disease surveillance and animal health status. From March 2011 onwards, the next publication will also include other surveillance activities related to the marine, freshwater, plants and forestry and environmental areas that the Surveillance Group also manages. To subscribe to the publication online: Go to http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/publications/surveillance/index.htm and click Subscribe in the shaded box at the top of the page. (Please don't forget to add what organisation you are from when filling in the subscription details. This will help us in the future to tailor information to different types of readerships)
Page last updated: 14 October 2011