Tuesday, 22 March 2022 13:16

New pests and diseases reporting tool to strengthen biosecurity system

Written by  Staff Reporters
Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson. Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson.

Biosecurity New Zealand has released a new web tool which allows people to report suspected exotic pests and diseases online.

“Alerts from the public about things that appear out of the ordinary to them, along with reports from our primary sector partners make up an important part of New Zealand’s strong biosecurity system,” says Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson.

“Strict importing rules, offshore agreements and inspections, and our frontline border operations keep New Zealand well protected from threats and make us one of the foremost biosecurity systems in the world.

“It’s very important that people can easily report things to us, and this new tool will enable that, providing an alternative to the existing 0800 phone hotline.”

From the Biosecurity New Zealand website, users are guided through the reporting process and can submit photos, location of finds and other information.

“Reports are then processed by our same team that handles phone hotline reports,” says Anderson.

He says submitters will receive a response from the investigation and specialist science teams in a similar timeframe to the current 0800 phoning system.

“However, those reporting urgent matters such as mass mortalities of animals, for example birds, fish, and shellfish, and animal diseases will be directed to the phone line.”

The new reporting tool can be found at report.mpi.govt.nz, alongside information on the priority exotic pests and diseases Biosecurity New Zealand is keeping an eye out for in New Zealand.

Anderson says he encourages people to contact Biosecurity New Zealand as soon as they suspect they’ve found something of concern, as early reports enable early action.

“In 2021, phone calls to our exotic pests and diseases hotline triggered 1,942 investigations. While few of those resulted in actual incursions, every report was valued. If highly invasive exotic pests like the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug or Queensland fruit fly go unreported, they could establish here, creating significant damage to our environment and economy.”

More like this

Biosecurity NZ ready for a busy summer

Biosecurity New Zealand says that more officers, detector dogs, and airport hosts, accompanied by an enhanced public awareness campaign, will bolster New Zealand’s biosecurity protections this summer.

No bird flu on second farm

Biosecurity New Zealand says test results to date from a small free-range layer chicken farm near Dunedin are negative for avian influenza.

No disease on other Mainland Poultry farms

Biosecurity New Zealand has reported no signs of disease on other chicken farms operated by Mainland Poultry in Otago, however testing and monitoring work continues.

Featured

Gongs for best field days site

Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.

Feed help supplements Canterbury farmers meet protein goals

Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.

National

Machinery & Products

Buhler name to go

Shareholders at a special meeting have approved a proposed deal that will see Buhler Industries, the publicly traded Versatile and…

Grabbing bales made quick and easy

Front end loader and implement specialist Quicke has introduced the new Unigrip L+ and XL+ next-generation bale grabs, designed for…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Risky business

OPINION: In the same way that even a stopped clock is right twice a day, economists sometimes get it right.

Should've waited

OPINION: The proposed RMA reforms took a while to drop but were well signaled after the election.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter