Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)’s Post

Double trouble alert 🚨 Introducing the newest members of our Biosecurity NZ Detector Dog Team – the T litter 🐶🐶 Mumma Neon gave birth to these two cuties 😍 on 22 March – with some help from detector dog Iko. This isn't Neon’s first rodeo. She’s a fantastic mum and the pups are thriving. They might not be the biggest litter we’ve had, but it’s about quality over quantity and these little guys will have all the more space to grow into the future of our detector dog programme. Watch this space, to see all the adventures they get up to over the next year before they begin their training.

Detector dog Pedro has discovered a passion for taxidermy 💀 He is growing quite the collection with some rather interesting pieces, after three separate finds over the last month at the International Mail Centre with trainer Bianca. 1️⃣ First a fox tail 🦊 imported from Canada. After it had been inspected and confirmed by the Department of Conservation to not be an endangered species, the fox tail was released to the importer. 2️⃣ The team found a parcel declared as “fashion accessories” from the UK. This package contained a pair of repurposed bird feet 🐦The bird-feet earrings were destroyed due to the risk of them carrying pests or diseases. 3️⃣ And lastly a package declared as “ornaments” from China. This parcel turned out to contain five small animal skulls 💀 Like the fox tail, DOC confirmed they were not from an endangered species, so the skulls were inspected and released to the importer. Great work Bianca and Pedro! We hope your passion for taxidermy continues.

Do you know an individual, team, or an organisation who has made a significant contribution to improving food safety 🦺🍳 in Aotearoa New Zealand? New Zealand Food Safety are proud to partner with the NZIFST New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology to sponsor the 2024 Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award 🏆 for the eighth year. 📅 Entries are open now until 27 May 2024. A judging panel will review all nominations and the winner will be presented with their award at the NZIFST Food Industry Awards Dinner in Hamilton on 3 July 2024. For more details, including the entry form visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gERXnjnv

It was great hosting a small delegation led by Dr R O Gupta from India’s National Dairy Development Board in Wellington last week. They’ve been in Aotearoa to learn more about our dairying 🐄 system, including our farms, processors, and the research behind our world-class dairy products. India and New Zealand have a tonne of experience and expertise in areas such as dairy production, animal health and nutrition, breeding and on-farm tools. Hosting the delegation is part of our cooperation to further develop our respective dairy sectors, to continue providing high-quality and nutritious dairy products to the world.

Congratulations 👏 to Dr Brian Richardson recipient of the 2024 New Zealand Biosecurity Minister's Award. The Minister’s Biosecurity Award recognises an individual, group or organisation that has contributed at least 10 years of continuous and outstanding service to biosecurity in New Zealand. Dr Richardson is an internationally recognised expert in forest 🌲🌳 vegetation management who has championed forest protection over nearly four decades. He has made significant contributions to New Zealand’s biosecurity responses, weed science, and research into aerial pesticide applications, and he is also passionate about the role science can play in protecting New Zealand’s native flora. Read more about Dr Brian's lifetime contribution to biosecurity and forest protection in New Zealand here: https://bit.ly/4aROFdn

Responsible commercial forests bring big export earnings and other many benefits for New Zealand, but wilding conifers 🌲 (aka wilding pines) are the opposite. They are unplanned and unhelpful, and uncontrolled. So what are the dangers of a wilding infestation compared to a beneficial forest? 🌲 No firebreaks to slow wildfires or aid firefighting 🌲 No setbacks to protect waterways 🌲 No use as timber in most cases 🌲 No help to our climate change goals. As tree weeds, wildings do more harm than good even while they absorb some carbon – as agreed in internationally climate policy. 🌲 No spacing or pruning means dense stands with no native undergrowth - light and rain don’t reach the ground. Check out this video 👇 from Wilding Free Mackenzie for more on the dangers of wilding conifers. Find out more at https://lnkd.in/gcrb4k5p

New Zealand Food Safety is pleased to be partnering with AsureQuality and the Institute of Directors in New Zealand to host a breakfast event. The event is aimed at senior managers and directors of companies involved in food production and manufacturing. Attendees will hear about relevant case studies and examples of best practice, giving you the tools to guide your organisation’s approach to food safety compliance. Vincent Arbuckle, Deputy Director-General, NZFS will be attending as a panellist alongside Kim Ballinger, CEO, AsureQuality and Peter Landon-Lane, Board Chair, AsureQuality and Executive Chair, VentureFruit. We invite you to join us. Attendance is free, but places are limited. Check out the details below 👇 📆 1 May 2024, 7:30am - 9:00am 📍 The Generator, 12 Madden Street, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland 🎟 Register here: https://bit.ly/3vWaUjm

Do you import food for sale, including ingredients, alcohol and dietary supplements and would like to be informed on food importer updates and current events? New Zealand Food Safety is launching a Food Importer Newsletter! New Zealand Food Safety’s Food Importer News 📰 is a regular e-newsletter which provides valuable, accurate and clear information and updates relating to food importing. Sign up, here 👉 https://bit.ly/4azwXvh

It is with a heavy heart that we had to say goodbye to detector dog Gina. She was one of the hardest workers in the Detector Dog Programme – a super sniffer with a soft soul, who would do anything for a biscuit. Gina was recently diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. For her peace and comfort the decision was made to put her to sleep. In her last days, Gina was able to say goodbye to some old friends including her foster family – the Haines – who helped raise her. “Gina was a unique character, who was a big part of our lives. We always thought that she would be the dog that greeted passengers at the airport with flowers in her teeth as she was so laid back. Boy, were we wrong! A long and illustrious career was ahead of her.” Gina and her G-litter siblings were born in March 2016. She joined the workforce in 2018 and worked diligently to protect our border up until this year. During her career she spent six years protecting our border with her primary handler Colleen. Together they stopped many biosecurity risks from entering the country. Some of Gina’s more unique finds include medicinal plant material taped to a passenger’s arm, some pangolin scales and a whole coconut shaped into a monkey’s head. “I had the pleasure of being Gina’s first handler. She was always excited to see me when I went to pick her up from the kennels to head off to work. She loved a good back scratch and to sun herself on a beautiful day. Thank you, Gina, for your service – it was a pleasure to be your colleague,” says Colleen. Gina got to finish her career in Queenstown with handler Lisa and BFF detector dog Iwi. “I would have liked to know Gina for longer, we bonded quickly as she was so genuine and sweet. In work, she took her job seriously and was always a crowd pleaser with her diligence and enthusiasm,” says Lisa. Gina’s legacy lives on in the Biosecurity Detector Dog Programme through her two litters of pups -- the M and O litters. Thank you for your amazing service, Gina 🐾💛

Congratulations 👏 to Vicki and Arana from Ngā Hāpu o Te Rāwhiti, Ngāti Kuta rāua Ko Patukeha, our New Zealand Biosecurity Supreme Award Winner! The supreme award winner recognises outstanding contribution to protecting our taonga (precious natural resources) and ensuring New Zealand's biosecurity system remains resilient, effective, and world leading. Discovering exotic Caulerpa seaweed in Te Rāwhiti and taking a key role in the community’s response, a decade of pest eradication on Ipipiri, helping reintroduce native birds in offshore islands, and a 20-year forest health plan for Russell are among the many ways Vicki Heta and Arana Rewha are working tirelessly to protect their rohe in the Bay of Islands. Rana and Vicki are the true embodiment of biosecurity champions in Te Tai Tokerau. Rana has earned the titles ‘guardian of the sea’ and ‘reluctant hero’ through his leadership in the Caulerpa response. With his in-depth knowledge of local ocean currents and hydrology, he provided insight to where the seaweed may spread in the area. Vicki is leading hui to ensure the hapū and Russell community remain up to date with the response to the exotic pest. Rana and Vicki have been championing the eradication of Sika deer in Russell Forest and Ngaiotonga Scenic Reserve. This mahi has lead to a 20-year forest health plan to restore the health and biodiversity of the area. Their understanding of the interconnectedness of ki uta ki tai (the whole environment) is shown in their dedication and commitment to biosecurity across whenua and moana, bringing people together through their passion, drive and commitment to Te Rawhiti taiao. Read more about their amazing biosecurity mahi here: https://lnkd.in/g8fmwJzR