Exotic pests to get special focus

The Government wants every Kiwi to play a part in repelling exotic pests and diseases from the country’s borders.

It is using high profile ‘‘champions’’ such as Hawke’s Bay farmer and former Federated Farmers president Bruce Wills and ‘‘bug man’’ Ruud Kleinpaste to spread the message about biosecurity.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy is seeking public feedback on how to manage the threat of invasive species with the launch of the Biosecurity 2025 discussion document.

It outlines the magnitude of the challenge with an explosion in visitors, containers and parcels arriving in New Zealand.

Between 2003 and 2014, air passengers rose 47 per cent, sea containers 37 per cent and parcels 216 per cent. In 2015, 200,000 cruise passengers visited.

The cost of pests such as possums, rabbits and wallabies to the primary sector is estimated at $1 billion a year.

‘‘The time is right to identify the changes and improvements that will be needed to maintain a resilient biosecurity system over the next 10 years,’’ Guy said.

Federated Farmers spokesman Guy Wigley said for the sake of the economy, biosecurity was vital.

‘‘We can take comfort from the amount of money which is being invested, which has been beefed up to $223 million. But you have to be smart as well as throw money at the problem,’’ he said.

Green Party spokeswoman for Primary Industries Eugenie Sage warned the strategy underplayed the role of climate change.

‘‘A comprehensive 2015 MPI report detailed the major risks to agriculture, horticulture and forestry from climate change including from ‘sleeper’ plant and animal species that are already present in New Zealand and currently innocuous, but whose populations and extent may increase with warming temperatures to become significant pests,’’ she said.

Federated Farmers chief executive Graham Smith said the Government still needed to drive the strategy.

‘‘They can’t do it all but they should lead and help fund it. But it’s good they are showing foresight,’’ he said.

Sage said the strategy was too focused on biosecurity pests which affect the primary sector, with too little attention on indigenous plants and wildlife.

‘‘This results in the cash-strapped Department of Conservation, rather than MPI, having to be the major funder for, and lead eradication programmes for new pests such as the great white butterfly which affect native plants as well as horticultural crops.’’

The Forest Owners Association suggested more resources would have to be put into education and boosting MPI’s response to alerts.

The discussion document ‘‘Protecting to grow New Zealand’’ has five key areas:

Every New Zealander and every New Zealand business becomes part of the biosecurity team.

Making the best use of innovation, science and technology.

Information in real time to help with risk management. Effective leadership and governance. A capable workforce and world-class infrastructure.

Submissions on the document close on September 9.