Category: New Zealand Government – Business

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Research and innovation key to Primary Sector Award win for Next Generation Apples

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Next Generation Apples – Sassy™ Apples clinched the Primary Sector Award category at the 2024 New Zealand Food Awards in Auckland last night (Thursday, 10 October 2024).

Launched in 2023, Sassy™ Apples is a new apple variety developed by Plant and Food Research, and grown and marketed by New Zealand-based growers Next Generation Apples, comprising Golden Bay Fruit and Taylor Corp.

“Sassy™ Apples were developed through plant-breeding techniques to create an apple with a crisp texture, high flavour, long storage and shelf life, novel skin and flesh colour, optimal harvest maturity, and pest and disease resistance,” says Vincent Arbuckle, deputy director-general of New Zealand Food Safety.

“It is exciting to see how investment in research can lead to practical advances without sacrificing on bite or flavour.

“Sassy™ Apples are an example of excellence across the supply chain – from research to the orchards, to our supermarkets. Our judging panel for the Primary Sector Award noted the impressive research and innovation behind this product.”

Mr Arbuckle said the high calibre of entries in the Primary Sector category this year reflected an exciting and thriving food and fibre sector.

The other finalists were Waitoa Free Range Chicken (Waitoa Flavour Kit, Thai Green Curry), Good Guise Paneer, and Akaroa Salmon (Hot Smoked Mānuka Salmon Portion 180g).

“All finalists demonstrated a commitment to the kind of quality and ability to overcome challenges which has always formed the foundation of New Zealand’s food production,” Mr Arbuckle said.

The New Zealand Food Awards are held annually by Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University to celebrate food and beverage excellence and innovation in Aotearoa.

New Zealand Food Awards

New Zealand Food Safety has been involved with the awards for more than 20 years, and has been a sponsor since 2008.

Vutter Avo Spreadable – a dairy-free butter, produced by Feliz Wholefoods – took out the 2024 Supreme Award.

For general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 00 83 33 or email info@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.

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Further temporary closure of Waimārama (Hawke’s Bay) for the taking of blackfoot pāua

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Have your say

Ngāi Hapū o Waimārama has requested a further 2-year temporary closure to the taking of blackfoot pāua, at Waimārama, Hawke’s Bay.

Fisheries New Zealand invites written submissions in response to this request from anyone who has an interest in blackfoot pāua or in the effects of fishing in the area concerned.

Section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996 allows the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries to temporarily close an area, or temporarily restrict or prohibit the use of any fishing method in an area.

Find out more about temporary closures

Closure request form

Request for temporary fishing closure of Waimārama, Hawke’s Bay  [PDF, 704 KB]

Area boundary of the proposed closure

The proposed area covers approximately 85 square kilometres and extends along 24 kilometres of coastline from Whakapau Point to Huarau.

Map of the proposed closure area Waimārama, Hawke’s Bay [PDF, 4.2 MB]

Making your submission

The closing date for submissions is 5pm on Monday 11 November 2024.

Email your submission to FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz

While we prefer email, you can post your submission to:

Spatial Allocations
Fisheries Management
Fisheries New Zealand
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140.

Public notice

A public notice about the call for submissions is scheduled to appear in the ‘Hawke’s Bay Today’ on Wednesday 9 October 2024.

Submissions are public information

Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

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Second notice of an application for a mātaitai reserve around the Ruapuke Island Group, Foveaux Strait, Southland

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Your views sought

Topi Whānau, Whaitiri Whānau, and Te Rūnaka o Awarua have applied for a mātaitai reserve around the Ruapuke Island Group, Foveaux Strait. This application is made on behalf of landowners of the Ruapuke Island Group.

Fisheries New Zealand invites submissions from people who take fish, aquatic life, or seaweed or own quota, and whose ability to take fish, aquatic life, or seaweed or whose ownership interest in quota may be affected by the proposed mātaitai reserve.

Topi Whānau, Whaitiri Whānau, Te Rūnaka o Awarua and Fisheries New Zealand have previously consulted with the local community on the application. The application proposes a number of conditions to allow specified commercial fishing activities to continue.

Find out more about the first consultation with the local community (closed 19 August 2024)

What’s being proposed?

The approximate area of the proposed mātaitai reserve includes the South Island fisheries waters around the Ruapuke Island Group, Katiapā (Seal Rocks), Papatea / Kauati-a-Tamatea (Green Island), Hinewaikārara (the Hazelburgh Group), Motuharo / Motuhara (Bird Island), Pōhutuwai (White Island), and includes the nearby named and unnamed rocks and islets. 

Consultation documents

Map of the proposed Ruapuke mātaitai reserve [PDF, 572 KB]

Application for Ruapuke mātaitai reserve [PDF, 253 KB]

Making your submission

Submissions close at 5pm on Monday 18 November 2024.

Email your submission to FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz

While we prefer email, you can post your submission to:

Fisheries Management – Spatial Allocations
Fisheries New Zealand
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140.

Public notices about this consultation

Public notices about the call for submissions are scheduled to appear in the Otago Daily Times, the Southland Times and the Southland Express on Thursday 3 October 2024.

About mātaitai reserves

A mātaitai reserve is an identified traditional fishing ground which tangata whenua have a special relationship with. Mātaitai reserves are limited to fisheries waters and do not include any land area. Mātaitai reserves do not change any existing arrangements for access to private land.

Mātaitai reserves also do not affect private landowners’ land titles, or their ability to exercise resource consents for such things as taking water or extracting gravel or sand. Resource consents are managed under the Resource Management Act 1991.

Mātaitai reserves do not have an impact on whitebait or trout fishing.

Find out more about mātaitai reserves

Fisheries (South Island Customary Fishing) Regulations 1999 – NZ Legislation

Recreational fishing

When a mātaitai reserve is established, the recreational fishing rules do not change. However, the Tangata Tiaki for a mātaitai reserve may propose changes to the rules at a later date.

Commercial fishing

Commercial fishing is generally banned in a mātaitai reserve, however, the application proposes a number of conditions to allow some commercial fishing activities to continue. The proposed conditions are set out in section 6 of the application [PDF, 253 KB]

Submissions are public information

Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

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Seaweed products recalled due to elevated arsenic levels

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

New Zealand Food Safety is supporting Tokyo Foods in its recall of specific seaweed products due to elevated levels of arsenic.

Arsenic: safe levels in food

“The concern with these products is that they could have inorganic arsenic at levels that could make you sick,” says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.

“They should not be eaten. Return them to where you bought them for a refund or throw them out.”

The affected seaweed products are sold at smaller retailers nationwide. All batches and dates of the following products are being recalled:

  • Wako Shokai brand Dried Seaweed (Kome Hijiki) 30g
  • Wako Shokai brand Roasted Seaweed (Hijiki) 25g
  • Yamanaka Foods brand Dried Seaweed (Mekabu) 15g
  • Ichbiki brand Hijiki Seaweed / Seasoned Vegetable 70g

Visit New Zealand Food Safety’s recall page for up-to-date information and photographs of the affected products.

Wako Shokai, Yamanaka Foods and Ichbiki brand Seaweed products

“These products contain a type of seaweed called hijiki, which is known to naturally have heightened levels of inorganic arsenic,” says My Arbuckle.

“Hijiki seaweed is not used in sushi products or as a seaweed wrap. It is usually sold in a dried, shredded form and is rehydrated and cooked before eating.”

High exposure to inorganic arsenic can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea within an hour of ingestion.

If you have consumed any of this product and are concerned for your health, contact your health professional, or call Healthline on 0800 61 11 16 for free advice.

New Zealand Food Safety has not received any notifications of associated illness. 

The products have been imported and have not been re-exported.

“As is our usual practice, New Zealand Food Safety will work with importer Tokyo Foods to understand how the contamination occurred and prevent its recurrence,” Mr Arbuckle said.

The vast majority of food sold in New Zealand is safe, but sometimes problems can occur.  Help keep yourself and your family safe by subscribing to our recall alerts. Information on how to subscribe is on the New Zealand Food Safety food recall page.

Recalled food products list

For general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 00 83 33 or email info@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.

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Beekeepers share expertise to improve hive health

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

A new research project has given beekeepers a platform for sharing their expertise to improve the health of the nation’s beehives.

Although the varroa mite has been in New Zealand for 24 years, the destructive parasite continues to kill beehives and is the main reason colonies die in winter. ‘Project Varroa’, an operational research project by Biosecurity New Zealand, got some of the country’s best beekeepers together to discuss ways to tackle this relentless parasite.

“The beekeepers already had many of the answers, our study has just given them a voice to connect and share those answers with each other,” says principal scientist Dr Richard Hall.

The research project involved beekeepers from a wide range of contexts – including large and medium scale commercial beekeepers, as well as hobbyists.  

The first phase of the research involved practical work with beekeepers in their own apiaries, to help them refine the methods they use to track varroa infestations. The second phase of the research, in November 2023, used focus groups and one-on-one interviews with beekeepers to delve into their experience with reinvasion and using different monitoring and treatment methods.

The research findings highlight the value of an integrated varroa management approach based on the ‘3Ms’ – combining monitoring with a mix of miticide treatments as well as mechanical methods.

“Alongside the 3Ms, beekeepers told us that one of the best ways to fight varroa would be for beekeepers to cooperate like their own bees do in a hive. If beekeepers can find better ways of communicating and working together, then that will have a big impact on varroa infestations in their area.

“There is a huge amount of experience among the nation’s beekeepers, but they tend to work independently. A number of the issues our focus group participants raised can be attributed – at least in part – to challenges with coordination and lack of involvement from the wider beekeeping community.

“A more coordinated approach to beekeeping across New Zealand, including better cooperation within the beekeeping industry, would enhance varroa control,” says Dr Hall.

Details of the research and more information about varroa management are available at:

Bee biosecurity resources

For more information please email: BiosecurityNZ_media@mpi.govt.nz

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School caving tragedy was preventable

Source: Worksafe New Zealand

WorkSafe has uncovered multiple failures that contributed to a teenager’s death on a school caving trip in Northland last year.

Whangārei Boys’ High School student Karnin Petera drowned in floodwaters from torrential rain at Abbey Caves in May 2023. Sixteen other students on the trip and their two supervisors were lucky to survive.

Karnin’s parents contacted the school multiple times to express their concerns about the weather in the lead-up to the trip, but were told it would go ahead as the school didn’t expect heavy rain until later.

A full day before the group ventured in, MetService had issued an orange weather warning forecasting heavy rain. The school’s own risk assessment for the caving trip noted it would be cancelled in the event of heavy rain warnings. However, WorkSafe found there was no shared understanding among organisers and decision-makers of exactly what heavy rain meant, or when trips would be cancelled.

Overall, the school Board had ineffective oversight of high-risk activities and critical decisions, and its emergency planning failed to identify the risk of rising water trapping students while caving. The Board fully cooperated with WorkSafe throughout the entire investigation.

“This tragedy is the worst nightmare of any parent, and could easily have involved multiple casualties. Our heartfelt sympathy remains with Karnin’s friends and whānau who continue to mourn his loss and the survivors who live with ongoing impacts,” says WorkSafe’s Inspectorate Head, Rob Pope.

“Outdoor education plays a crucial role in providing students with valuable, real-world learning experiences that enhance their overall education. However, there must be gold standard risk management whenever schools take rangatahi into the great outdoors. This drowning should be a moment for every school board in the country to ensure its oversight of outdoor education is robust – and if you’re at all unsure, get an expert involved,” says Rob Pope.

Education outside the classroom (EOTC) safety management systems should be regularly reviewed by school boards.

“It is essential that the person responsible for EOTC in each school is registered on the EOTC coordinators database and participates in ongoing professional development, so schools can continue delivering safe, engaging, and high-quality education outside the classroom,” says Education Outdoors New Zealand’s chief executive, Fiona McDonald.

Schools must manage their risks under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. WorkSafe is proactively engaging with the Ministry of Education, Education Review Office, and Education Outdoors NZ to raise awareness of the issues and drive improvements across the sector.

Read more guidance from Education Outdoors New Zealand(external link)

Background

  • The Whangārei Boys’ High School Board was sentenced at Whangārei District Court on 27 September 2024
  • The charges were filed against the legal entity of the Board, not individuals
  • Reparation payments of more than $500,000 were ordered but the details are suppressed
  • The Board was charged under sections 36(2), 48(1) and 2(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
    • Being a PCBU, having a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers of other persons is not put at risk from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking, namely the outdoor education caving activity to Abbey Caves Reserve, did fail to comply with that duty, and that failure exposed other persons, including Karnin Petera, to a risk or death or serious injury.
  • The Board was charged under sections 36(1)(a), 48(1) and 2(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
    • Being a PCBU, having a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers who work for the PCBU while the workers were at work in the business or undertaking, namely undertaking an outdoor education caving activity to Abbey Caves Reserve, did fail to comply with that duty, and that failure exposed workers to a risk of death or serious injury.

Media contact details

For more information you can contact our Media Team using our media request form. Alternatively:

Email: media@worksafe.govt.nz

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Company and director of nursery fined $42,500 for breaking plant import quarantine rules

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

The company and director of a nursery who illegally took 220 imported plants out of quarantine after just one day, has been fined $42,500.

Elliott Wholesale Nursery Limited is a Ministry for Primary Industries registered Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facility. Under the Biosecurity Act, imported plants should be in quarantine for 3 months.

Jeffrey Wayne Elliott (65) and Elliott Wholesale Nursery Limited were sentenced in the Christchurch District Court today on one charge under the Biosecurity Act. They earlier pleaded guilty following a successful prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

“Mr Elliot is highly experienced and knew the quarantine regulations. These rules are there for a reason – to protect New Zealand from any potential pests and diseases which could be a risk to our biosecurity,” says MPI regional manager, investigations south, Gerald Anderson.

In September 2022, Elliott’s Wholesale Nursery imported 600 Nandina domestica tissue culture – an evergreen shrub from Australia. The plants were unpacked and placed in a Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facility quarantine, where they needed to remain for 3 months. However, after just one day, Mr Elliot removed 220 of these plants, placing them in a non PEQ area.

“To avoid detection and to circumnavigate the biosecurity rules designed to protect New Zealand from potentially unwanted pests and diseases – he replaced these plants with similar looking domestic plants, which he admitted doing to an employee who questioned him.

“When an MPI inspector conducted an audit – the nursery passed because at the time, the inspector believed the swapped plants were the imported nandina plants from Australia.

While Mr Elliot declined to be formally interviewed by MPI, he admitted to MPI investigators that he knew he had broken the law.

No pests or diseases were found on the plants that were taken out of the quarantine facility.

For general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 00 83 33 or email info@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.

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Biosecurity New Zealand prepares for school holidays

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Biosecurity New Zealand is gearing up for the September school holidays, with international passenger arrivals expected to be higher than last year.

Passenger arrivals at Auckland Airport are predicted to be 2% higher than in 2023, which saw 217,195 air passengers pass through biosecurity checks, says Biosecurity New Zealand commissioner Mike Inglis.

“We’re continuing to recruit more frontline border officers and so far this year, 70 new trainees have been recruited, including 51 in Auckland.

“Nationwide, our officers screened 474,272 passengers in August, up from 459,122 in the same month last year. Officers also seized 7,536 risk items in August and issued 610 infringement notices to passengers who failed to declare items.

“Our role is to ensure biosecurity threats such as the exotic fruit fly and brown marmorated stink bug do not cross our borders,” says Mr Inglis.

“These and other pests and diseases could have a devastating impact on New Zealand’s $54 billion primary sector.”

The top 3 seizures in August were fresh produce, meat products and used equipment, while unusual finds included dried cow dung patties and a large haul of giant clams.

Mr Inglis says there has been a steady increase in passenger numbers since COVID-19 travel restrictions eased and Biosecurity New Zealand continues to improve passenger flows at international airports while maintaining strict biosecurity controls.

Last year, a new risk assessment process was introduced for passengers arriving at Auckland Airport with nothing to declare. The process uses declaration information to assess risk before passengers collect their baggage. Low-risk passengers are directed to an express exit lane, where they are screened by detector dogs.

“This initiative has reduced the average biosecurity processing time at Auckland Airport to around 5 minutes, down from a peak of 13.16 minutes in February 2023.”

Biosecurity New Zealand is looking to risk assess more passengers before they collect their baggage rather than after.

Mr Inglis says trials at international airports across the country shows this reduces screening times.

He says the quickest way to pass through biosecurity screening is to avoid bringing food or other items that could pose a biosecurity risk.

For more information, contact New Zealand Food Safety’s media team on NZFoodSafety_media@mpi.govt.nz.

For general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 00 83 33 or email info@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328

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Child-care centre guidance on Police vetting for workers

Source: Worksafe New Zealand

We have updated our guidance on the requirements for vetting workers at limited-attendance child-care centres.

The new Regulatory Systems (Education) Amendment Act 2024 means updates have been made to the Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016 (Regulation 51).

A key point is that Police vetting must be completed for non-teaching and unregistered employees at unlicensed child-care centres before the person begins work. This vetting must be used to assess any risks to the safety of children. 

What are limited-attendance child-care centres?

These are any premises that are:

  • used regularly for the care of three or more children under six years old (not including the children of the persons providing the care) and
  • where the children do not stay for more than two hours per day and
  • where the children’s parents or caregivers are in close proximity to the children, and are able to be contacted and resume responsibility for the children at short notice. 

For example, a crèche at a gym or shopping mall.

It does not include being provided with care before or after school.

Read more information in the fact sheet: What to know when employing or engaging limited-attendance child-care centre workers

Related information:

Governance of education sector boosted | Beehive.govt.nz (external link)

Regulatory Systems (Education) Amendment Act 2024 – Education in New Zealand | Education.govt.nz (external link)

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Work-related health newsletter – September 2024

Source: Worksafe New Zealand

Kia ora koutou and welcome to the September work-related health newsletter. Check out the latest guidance to help you ensure a healthy and safe work environment for you and your workers.

In this edition:

  • WorkSafe’s priority plans published
  • Updated guidance for working with asbestos
  • New manual tasks screening and risk assessment tools
  • Keeping volunteers healthy and safe
  • Health and safety governance good practice guide
  • ACC levy consultation
  • Upcoming conference.

Read the full newsletter(external link)