MPI defends cost of new biosecurity lab
The head of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity operation, Stuart Anderson, has defended the cost and the need for a Plant Healht and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) being built in Auckland.
Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) this morning officially opened its M. bovis regional hub in Whangarei.
MPI recovery coordinator for Northland Alison Whiteford says up until last month, affected farmers in Northland were managed from the Hamilton hub.
She says technical support staff needed on farms for recovery work were based in Hamilton.
“There is so much M. bovis-related activity over here so it’s good to have a central office for the region,” she says.
Northland farmers can now more easily access vet support as they deal M.bovis on their farms, she says.
The new office will have 12 case managers based full-time.
Whiteford says the new office will ensure greater access to MPI support for farmers.
Primary Industries Minister Damien O’Connor officially opened the office.
