Category: New Zealand Government – Business

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: Busy summer for frontline biosecurity officers

New Zealand’s border biosecurity defenders have just been through their busiest summer on record, says the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

MPI biosecurity officers screened some 2 million passenger arrivals for risk goods between December 2017 and February 2018, a 5% increase on last summer.

“It was a hectic few months, but we came into the season well prepared for the rush, including employing more than 70 new officers during the year,” says MPI border clearance director Steve Gilbert. 

“Officers handed out nearly 4,000 infringements to passengers with undeclared goods that could harbour disease pests or diseases. Most of these were for undeclared fresh produce, which can carry destructive fruit fly species.”

“We made 10 fruit fly interceptions during the summer. This proves the worth of our biosecurity defences, given the damage these insects can do to New Zealand horticulture.”

He says MPI officers also made record seizures of brown marmorated stink bugs with more than 180 interceptions and more than 2,000 individual bugs detected.

MPI has increased its scrutiny of cargo arriving from countries where the pest is established, with the number of consignments targeted for inspection increasing more than 100%. 

“There has been a huge spike in stink bug detections on imported vehicles and machinery from Japan that has so far resulted in 4 carriers being turned away from New Zealand this season,” says Mr Gilbert.

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: New approach to manage myrtle rust

The Ministry for Primary Industries and the Department of Conservation say the fight against the plant disease myrtle rust is changing gear, given the prevalence of the disease across susceptible parts of New Zealand.

Myrtle rust has now been confirmed in the Tasman region at the top of the South Island, which means the disease has been found across almost all regions identified as most vulnerable based on habitat suitability and wind patterns.

“When myrtle rust was first discovered on mainland New Zealand in May last year, we said it would be a challenging disease to contain and eradicate but we would give it a good crack,” says the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Myrtle Rust Response Spokesperson Dr Catherine Duthie.

“There has been an enormous operational effort over the last 11 months, but the windborne nature of the disease means that containment has not proved possible. We have signalled for a while the likely need to change gear from intensive surveillance and the removal and destruction of host plants, to one where we look to manage the disease over the long term.”

The fungus has been found in Tasman region on ramarama (Lophomyrtus) on a residential property in Collingwood in Golden Bay, and a commercial property at Pohara. In addition, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has confirmed infections on 5 properties at Omori on the south-western edge of Lake Taupo, which is also a new region for infection.

“We now have well over 540 infected sites across the North Island and now the top of the South,” says Dr Duthie. “Because of the windborne, pernicious nature of the disease, we have to anticipate that there are likely to be many more infected sites beyond these.”

Dr Duthie says the focus of efforts now had to be placed on a science programme designed to lift our understanding around the disease such as ways to treat myrtle rust, resistance and susceptibility, and to improve seed banking collection.

“A second key focus has to be on working with communities across New Zealand to support regional efforts to combat myrtle rust. As we transition to long term management, MPI and the Department of Conservation (DOC) will be engaging with iwi and hapu, territorial authorities, the plant and nursery industries, and communities to support the development of regional programmes. This could include regional surveillance programmes, identification and protection strategies for taonga plants and special locations, advice to landowners, seed banking, and broad community engagement.”

As part of involving and informing communities at the grassroots, MPI and DOC will hold hui with iwi and councils in affected regions over the coming months.

“We think this regional and community effort is really important. One of the most critical things is for people to continue to report suspected infections. We need to keep tracking the spread of the disease so we can better understand how it might behave in New Zealand and what its long-term impacts might be. This will help us to understand resistance of native species and will be vital to our myrtle rust science programme.”

More than 540 properties are known to have been infected by the fungal disease since it was first detected on mainland New Zealand in mid-May 2017. Since then, more than 5000 myrtle plants have been securely removed and destroyed, and more than 95,000 myrtle plants inspected.

Members of the public are encouraged to continue to report any possible cases to the Biosecurity Hotline – 0800 80 99 66.

DOC will continue to focus on seed collection to secure the long-term future of native myrtle plants and monitoring biodiversity impacts to inform science and management actions. It will also continue efforts to protect sites of high ecological and cultural significance.

Editor’s notes

Distribution of detections

At 6 April, myrtle rust has been detected on 547 properties across 9 regions: Northland (4 properties), Auckland (82), Waikato (61), Bay of Plenty (123), Taupo (5), Taranaki (233), Manawatu (3), Wellington (34), Tasman (2).

Science programme

MPI has commissioned a $3.4 million research programme made up of more than 20 specific projects to be undertaken over the 2 years to June 2019.

• Lincoln University has completed an impact assessment under various outbreak scenarios.
• NIWA has completed climate modelling on the potential risk of myrtle rust spread from Australia and Raoul Island.
• MPI’s Plant Health and Environment Laboratory and the Food and Environment Agency (UK) have developed a rapid field monitoring tool that has been used in the myrtle rust response on mainland New Zealand.
• New Zealand Plant Producers Inc is scoping and developing a plant production biosecurity scheme for nurseries and garden centres.
• Scion Research is working on several projects to:
• build engagement and social licence through better understanding of potential options around the long-term management of myrtle rust
• undertake a desktop review of potential disease control tools
• map myrtle species
• develop and test possible surveillance and management tools
• scope a breeding programme for resistant myrtle species
• develop monitoring approaches to assess environmental, economic, social and cultural impacts over time, and to understand the impact of potential management actions.
• There are several projects yet to begin on:
• regular climate modelling to help inform decisions around geographical risks and the deployment of field surveillance teams
• assessment of spore transmission risk via bees and beehives
• identification of resistant and susceptible myrtle species and environmental factors that affect susceptibility
• identification of periods when fungus symptoms are not visible
• development of a seed banking and germplasm research strategy
• assessment of the potential risks that other types of myrtle rust could present to New Zealand
• investigating the best possible methods to store and preserve myrtle seeds (some myrtle species produce very low amounts of seed that can’t be grown after being  stored).

Response data

Since myrtle rust was first detected on mainland New Zealand, we have:

• inspected more than 95,276 myrtle plants across the high risk areas of the North Island and upper South Island
• co-ordinated field activities of 7 surveillance teams and 4 plant removal teams
• dedicated more than 104,000 hours to responding to the myrtle rust threat
• found myrtle rust on an average of 45 properties each month (ranging from 2 in October 2017, to 184 in March 2018)
• removed and securely destroyed more than 5,000 infected myrtle plants
• undertaken approximately 330 laboratory tests of myrtle plant samples
• received more than 3,300 calls from members of the public regarding suspected myrtle rust infections
• with the Māori Biosecurity Network, held hui around the North Island to share knowledge of myrtle rust and the response provided surveillance training to more than 100 people on marae so they could monitor taonga myrtle plants
• worked in partnership with iwi kaitiaki, councils, and community volunteers to establish a community-driven surveillance programme on Mauao (Mt Maunganui) historic reserve.

Pictures

MPI has photos related to the myrtle rust response and susceptible plants. They can be requested by emailing media@mpi.govt.nz

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: MPI takes successful prosecutions over illegal collection of pāua from closed Kaikōura fishery

A Nelson painter has paid the price for taking pāua from an area in Kaikōura where the collection of shellfish was banned after the 2016 earthquake.

Neville Allistar Moka, 39, pleaded guilty to a charge of fishing in an area closed under emergency measures, when he appeared in the Nelson District Court last week.

He was fined $1,500 and ordered to pay court costs of $130.

Ministry for Primary Industries spokesman, Howard Reid, says Mr Moka’s offending took place between June and July last year while he was working on the Kaikōura coast.

He says Mr Moka admitted gathering shellfish on one occasion from the sea opposite to where he was staying.

“He took pāua from within the closed area and claimed he didn’t know a ban applied to where he was gathering from,” says Mr Reid.

“That’s despite there being a prominent sign almost directly across the road from his accommodation.

“The sign clearly stated that the fishery was closed – the sentencing judge found it difficult to accept Mr Moka’s explanation.”

Another Nelson painter who was sharing accommodation with Mr Moka, 49-year-old Benjamin Beale, received the same fine and was also ordered to pay $130 court costs after pleading guilty to the same charge when he appeared in the Nelson District Court at an earlier date.

Mr Beale claimed he took the pāua at night and didn’t see the sign which the sentencing judge dismissed as completely unbelievable.

Mr Reid says both Mr Moka’s and Mr Beale’s offending is very disappointing.

“The Kaikōura earthquake had a devastating effect on the pāua fishery, with tens of thousands of pāua dying and large areas of productive habitat being lost.

“The fishery still hasn’t recovered from the severe impacts of the quake. In these circumstances, any harvest of pāua has a huge negative impact on sustainability.”

The Kaikōura pāua fishery also has great significance to the local community, iwi, recreational, and commercial fishers who are represented by Te Korowai, an organisation that’s working closely with MPI to promote and encourage sustainable fisheries management.

The chairperson of Te Korowai, Larnce Wichman, says he was disappointed to hear about the breaches of the closure.

“It’s sad to see people taking advantage of our already broken resource. We all have to work together to ensure the future recovery of our fishery – the key to this is collective responsibility.

“We appreciate the work of MPI compliance staff who, through regular patrols and persistence, are holding to account those who decide to threaten the recovery of this species which is a valuable taonga for our community.”

The area from Conway River to Marfells Beach remains closed indefinitely to the taking of pāua, both recreationally and commercially.

 

 

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: Technical advice and pathway tracing reports released following compliance searches

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has today released reports by a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to its Mycoplasma bovis response and an internal report examining potential entry routes (pathways) to New Zealand for the disease.

The TAG report contains a reference to possible legal breaches in relation to how the disease entered the country.  While these have largely been redacted from the report, MPI has been unable to release it until those matters were sufficiently examined by compliance investigators.

• TAG report (December 2017)
• TAG report addendum (February 2018)
• Pathways report
• Media release: Warranted searches conducted during Mycoplasma bovis investigation

Note: Redactions have been made to the TAG and pathways reports consistent with provisions of the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). Where required, the Ministry for Primary Industries has considered the public interest when making decisions on the information being withheld.

TAG report

The TAG report (December 2017) and an update addendum (February 2018) endorse MPI’s response activity to date to manage the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis. It finds that while eradication of the disease remains technically possible, it would be difficult, time-consuming, and costly.

MPI’s director of response, Geoff Gwyn, says forming a technical advisory group is a routine part of complex biosecurity responses.

“TAGs give us an independent perspective on what we’ve done and help us take the best possible course of action going forward.

“In this case, the group has found the significant work undertaken by MPI and industry to understand the disease and limit its spread meets internationally-recognised standards.

“The report also suggests enhancements to our work programme that could be made as the response continues. This is the purpose of the report and most of the recommendations have been actioned,” Mr Gwyn says.

• 2018 MPI response and actions to key TAG recommendations

The TAG reports that, despite clear links between infected properties, the extent of the infection, the complexity of diagnostic tests, and deficiencies in record-keeping around animal movements will make the task of eradication difficult and expensive.

The TAG’s updated advice in February found a minority of TAG members felt successful eradication was less likely than had been assessed in the earlier December report, due to the likelihood of undetected spread since (possibly) 2015, the scale of tracing required, and the failure of NAIT (the National Animal Identification and Tracing scheme) to fully track animal movements.

However, Mr Gwyn says a range of options remain for consideration before a final decision can be made.

“The TAG’s advice will help us as we consider whether to proceed with eradication or pursue other options for managing the disease in the longer-term.

“There is critical work being done to model the potential spread of Mycoplasma bovis under different scenarios and in understanding the costs and benefits of decisions around eradication.

“We are confident the disease is not well established in New Zealand and we now need to complete our analysis and planning.

“The decision taken earlier this week to depopulate infected farms will reduce disease pressure and put us in the best position to eradicate or move to long-term management when that decision is made.

“We are taking the appropriate time to reach the right decision. There is much to consider, including the cost benefits and the effects on farmers and their families and on animal welfare. We all want to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis – but it has to be technically possible, practically achievable, and affordable for everyone.”

The TAG will be reconvened for the third time in the next few weeks to discuss next steps.

Pathway analysis report

In addition to the TAG report, MPI’s analysis of potential entry pathways for the disease has also been released and examines 7 potential routes of entry – imported live cattle, other imported animals, imported frozen semen, imported embryos, imported veterinary medicines and biological products, imported feed, and imported used farm equipment.

The report does not reach any conclusion about the likelihood of any of the 7 risk commodities being responsible.

This report was completed in late November as a snapshot, based on information known at that time.  MPI continues to examine potential entry pathways.

Find out more about Mycoplasma bovis

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: Warranted searches conducted during Mycoplasma bovis investigation

Warranted officers from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ compliance investigations team ran simultaneous searches at 3 locations yesterday as part of an investigation associated with the Mycoplasma bovis response.

The searches were conducted in both the North and South islands.

Manager compliance investigations, Gary Orr, says the searches related to potential breaches of legislation related to the Mycoplasma bovis response.

“We recognise there is strong interest in the rural sector concerning how Mycoplasma bovis may have entered New Zealand,” says Mr Orr.

“We will ensure the outcome of these investigations is communicated to farmers as soon as we are able to provide that information,” Mr Orr says.

The ministry is unable to provide substantive comment while investigations continue.

Find out more about Mycoplasma bovis

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: MPI calls for a cull on all Mycoplasma bovis infected properties

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has determined that all cattle on properties infected with the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis will be culled, and will be working with farmers to do that from today.

“The depopulation of entire herds on all 28 Infected Properties (IPs) in New Zealand is a critical measure to control the spread of the disease and we will be working closely with those farmers to plan how this will happen,” says MPI’s response director Geoff Gwyn.

“This will be a big job and won’t happen overnight, but we’ll be meeting with the affected farmers in the coming days to discuss the operation, develop the plans and talk through compensation.”

All IP farmers will be compensated for their verifiable losses. MPI continues to build its compensation team to make sure farmers are compensated as quickly as possible. Once farms are de-populated and cleaned, these farmers can start re-building a disease-free herd from scratch.

“We understand this has been an incredibly difficult time for farmers while they wait for critical decisions to be made about managing and controlling this disease,” says Mr Gwyn.

“This cull will give those farmers back some certainty and control over the future of their farms, their animals and their livelihoods.

“We are able to take this decision now because we are confident Mycoplasma bovis is not well established in New Zealand.

“The testing of milk from every dairy farm in New Zealand is very well advanced and to date has only identified one new infected property.

“This, combined with MPI’s extensive surveillance work tracing every possible movement of animals from infected farms, gives us the confidence to say the disease is not widespread, but is limited to a network of farms connected by animal movements. Culling these animals is now the appropriate action.”

Non-infected farms that are under Restricted Places Notices (RPN) or Notices of Direction (NoDs) are not being asked to cull their herds at this point because infection has not yet been confirmed on those properties. Confirmation relies on the defining genetic test which provides complete confidence that animals on a farm are positive.

Mr Gwyn says MPI will work with farmers to develop individual management plans for each of these properties – until a decision on whether to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis or move to long-term management is made.

“We all want to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis – but it has to be technically possible, practically achievable and affordable for everyone.  Our focus is on the resilience of our dairy and beef industries which are such significant contributors to our economy, and on farmer well-being and the welfare of animals.

“Whatever option is taken, we will need to see some big changes in on-farm biosecurity and NAIT compliance. There remains a big job to do around this disease, and there is no quick exit from this situation.”

While MPI with industry partners will continue to focus on surveillance and tracking the spread of the disease, there is critical work being done to model the potential spread of Mycoplasma bovis under different scenarios and in understanding the costs and benefits of decisions around eradication.

“People will say ‘why haven’t you done this already’.  In fact we have been working on this since the disease was detected and we depopulated 7 farms in December.  We halted further culling until we better understood the spread of the disease. We are now at that point where we have that understanding and can complete this work with confidence,” says Mr Gwyn.

“We now believe the disease is not endemic and we can complete this analysis and planning, but we will take care and time to get it right because decisions about the future management of this disease are too important to rush.”

Note to Editors: There are currently 28 active Infected Properties but only 22 have cattle remaining on them that will need to be culled.

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: Public vigilance helps nab divers who took hundreds of freshwater crayfish near Rotorua

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is hailing the efforts of local iwi and members of the public for helping fishery officers catch a group of divers who took more than twice the daily limit of freshwater crayfish at Lake Okataina.

MPI spokesman Adam Plumstead says MPI was acting on information it received from concerned community members who were up in arms about what was happening.

“After following up on this invaluable information, we discovered that a group of divers, all from the Auckland region, had taken a total of 587 kōura (freshwater crayfish) from the lake.

“The daily limit for one person is 50 kōura meaning they collectively took 387 more than they are legally entitled to.

“This sort of offending is really serious. Kōura is a very important species with cultural significance. On top of this, the amount taken has an impact on the sustainability of the fishery.

“Obviously the local community has been deeply distressed by the actions of these divers and they are pleased and relieved that we have been able to put a stop to their activity.

“It is thanks to the eyes and ears of the public that we’ve been able to achieve this outcome. People in the area care deeply about the health of their local fishery. The fact they came to MPI to report what they had seen and heard about is fantastic.”

Mr Plumstead says one vehicle and a large quantity of dive gear was seized from the group.

He says that MPI is making further inquiries into the incident and the alleged offenders could face serious charges.

Anyone who sees or hears about illegal fishing activity is encouraged to call the MPI poacher hotline on 0800 4 POACHER (0800 477 6224).

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: Golden Bay farm manager convicted for abusing cows

A Golden Bay farm manager has been convicted after being found guilty of ill-treating cows in his care.

Forty-five-year-old Steven John Wells, a farm manager at Maratoa Farm near Takaka, was convicted of 6 counts under the Animal Welfare Act after a 4-day trial in the Nelson District Court last week.

His offending took place in 2015 and 2016 when he broke the tails of cows, hit them with a metal pipe, kicked them, kneed them, and punched them.

Wells will be sentenced in the Nelson District Court on April 30 2018.

Find out about animal codes of welfare

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: MPI looking into accidental capture of Hector’s dolphins

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is looking into an accidental capture and subsequent deaths of 5 Hector’s dolphins in a commercial set net off Banks Peninsula last month.

Set netting is permitted in the area where the incident occurred and the event was reported to MPI by the fisher.

The ministry’s compliance staff are continuing to look into the unfortunate and unusual incident. 

MPI officials have been asked by the Minister of Fisheries, Stuart Nash, to prioritise a review of the existing Hector’s and Maui dolphin Threat Management Plan and will work with key stakeholders to progress this work as quickly as possible.

The Hector’s dolphin is classified as nationally endangered.

Results from the most recent comprehensive population survey (funded by MPI) in the 3 main South Island populations undertaken between 2012 and 2015 revealed approximately twice as many Hector’s dolphins as previously thought.

The population is now estimated to be approximately 15,000 whereas the previously published estimation was 7,000.

Under the Hector’s and Māui dolphin Threat Management Plan, approximately 15,000 square kilometres is closed to set netting around the North and South Island.

Bans and restrictions are in place in the areas that were deemed to pose the greatest risk to the dolphins at the time that they were introduced.

Find out about our work protecting dolphins

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: Myrtle rust found for first time in Manawatu

Myrtle rust has been detected in Manawatu for the first time, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) confirmed today.

The fungus was found on a young ramarama (Lophomyrtus) in a planted area off Victoria Esplanade in Palmerston North.

Myrtle rust response spokesperson Dr Catherine Duthie says operational activity will start immediately to try to contain the disease.

“Hopefully, we have found it in this region early, which would give us a chance of trying to eliminate it or, at least, slow down the spread there. We are swinging straight into action. The infected plant will be removed and securely disposed of and one of our 7 field surveillance teams will begin an intensive inspection of myrtle plants on all properties within a200-metree radius.”

“It is disheartening that myrtle rust has been detected in another region, but it is consistent with the expected infection pattern.

“Residents can help, by checking the myrtle plants in their garden. At this time of year, the fungus is still in its sporulation, or spreading, stage. This means it is very visible. Without touching the plant, you can look on either side of the leaves and new shoots for any sign of a bright yellow, powdery eruption. Some leaves could also be buckled or twisted, or look diseased with dry pustules that are grey or brown. It’s really important not to touch the plants or brush against them, as this can disrupt the spores and speed up its spread.”

Any suspected cases of myrtle rust can be reported to the biosecurity freephone number – 0800 80 99 66. MPI will investigate suspected cases, track and monitor its spread, and collect information to help understand the disease’s impact on New Zealand.

At 19 March, there has been a total of 409 properties affected by myrtle rust on mainland New Zealand: Northland (4 properties), Auckland (63), Waikato (33), Bay of Plenty (92), Taranaki (200), Manawatu (1) and Wellington (16). In the last couple of weeks, most detections have been in Taranaki and Auckland.

There have been no detections in the South Island to date, although north-western areas were identified in climate modelling of being at a high risk from spores carried on the wind from Australia.

Find out more about the disease