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Taking the plunge into biosecurity
Welcome to the refreshed Biosecurity 2025 e-newsletter, inspired by our new independent biosecurity brand, Ko Tātou This is Us.
In this issue, we're excited to bring you a number of marine and freshwater biosecurity in action stories from around the country, as well as some insights into what's happening to protect our precious freshwater and marine environments.
It’s not long until the 2018 Biosecurity New Zealand Forum, as part of the Forum there’s some great workshops, including one dedicated to creating a shared vision for marine biosecurity.
Building a biosecurity team of 4.7 million
At the end of September, Biosecurity 2025 launched a new programme that sets out to build a biosecurity team of 4.7 million New Zealanders.
The programme includes an independent biosecurity brand, Ko Tātou This Is Us and a supporting public campaign.
The campaign highlights the personal connection of biosecurity to people’s lives and demonstrates that every New Zealander has an essential role helping to protect Aotearoa from pests and diseases.
Ko Tātou This Is Us, aims to connect all biosecurity participants and existing programmes and activities across the system, whilst also encouraging more programmes to emerge. The brand can be used by businesses, organisations, iwi and community groups to show how they are committing to biosecurity or to promote their biosecurity-related programmes and activities.
Ko Tātou This is Us toolkit
We'd strongly encourage you to use the new brand to mark your biosecurity-related programmes, events, activities or commitments.
We've pulled together a toolkit and templates to help get you started. There are also lots of other
ways in which you can get involved: you can share your news and events; email us your own case studies; or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
If you need any help, get in touch at thisisus@mpi.govt.nz
Biosecurity New Zealand Forum
12-13 November 2018, Auckland
Join Biosecurity New Zealand and its forum partners, the Government Industry Agreement and the Department of Conservation, at the Biosecurity New Zealand Forum.
This year's forum theme is 'Biosecurity: Partnering to Protect', exploring the many different approaches to, and motivations for biosecurity. A draft programme is also available. Check it out here.
Don't miss out, register now.
Marine and freshwater biosecurity in action
To get you in the mood, take a look at this video from Land Information New Zealand showing how they're tackling Lagarosiphon, in Lake Wanaka, an invasive weed that can grow up to a metre per month.
What marine pests are in New Zealand waters?
The New Zealand Marine Biosecurity Porthole has been developed to give biosecurity managers, researchers and members of the public access to information about marine pests in New Zealand waters.
Know your marine organism
Knowing what marine organisms live and breed in our waters is really important for biosecurity. The Marine Invasive Taxonomic Service is responsible for identifying and managing collections of all marine samples.
Wairakei Stream
looking great!
After one phase of salvinia eradication, Wairakei Stream is looking great. See how Tauranga City Council, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Biosecurity New Zealand eradicated this nasty pest.
Red-light districts help whitebait thrive
Shelley Hackett is one of Auckland Council’s senior community waterways specialists and she’s running ‘love hotels’ for īnanga (whitebait). These hotels will make it easier for Auckland whitebait to breed.
Auckland Council Underwater sonic blasting hero
Sonic blasting to remove bacteria in water sounds futuristic, but it’s happening in our very own waterways. Auckland Council is leading the way in New Zealand using this technology.
Tackling the ‘gorse of the sea’
A Nelson-based company is turning the pest weed, undaria (wakame) seaweed, otherwise known as the ‘gorse of the sea’ into organic fertiliser. The marine pest can also be used to make fish food.
Getting to know the Mediterranean fanworm
The notorious Mediterranean fanworm first appeared in New Zealand in March 2008 in Lyttelton Harbour. Despite efforts to restrict its spread,
it’s managed to invade much of the Waitemata Harbour, as well as Whangarei and Coromandel harbours.
Getting to grips with an Aussie invader - the Pyura
The Pyura sea squirt from Aussie shores has been found in intertidal mussel (kuta) beds in Northland and the Ministry for Primary Industries is collaborating with Far North iwi on research looking at ways to get rid of it. So far their approach looks like it might just work.
Dive team keeping Chatham Islands' waters pristine
Chatham Islands' marine biosecurity is being well looked after due to the foresight of Environment Canterbury. The regional council trained and equipped staff and commercial divers
to locate marine
pests. Learn more about the Chatham's dive team.
Planning and capability
PROFILE: Graeme Inglis, Principal Scientist – Marine Ecology at NIWA
For nearly 20 years Graeme Inglis has been a major influencer and contributor to New Zealand’s marine biosecurity, particularly around science, surveillance, technical advice and response capability.
Learn more about the work he does to protect New Zealand's marine environment from pests and diseases.
Biosecurity New Zealand’s marine pest surveillance programme
New Zealand’s biosecurity system has a number of approaches in place to prevent the entry, establishment and spread of new species. The best way to reduce the impact of new species is to prevent them from arriving in New Zealand in the first place.
New marine species usually arrive in New Zealand on international vessels, either attached to the hull as biofouling or within discharged ballast water.
Working together to keep Fiordland’s waters free from pests
Vessel operators entering the Fiordland Marine Area are required to comply with biofouling rules and hold a Clean Vessel Pass to comply with the Fiordland Marine Regional Pathway Management Plan.
The plan is a multi-agency and stakeholder initiative led by Environment Southland, and supported by MPI, Department of Conservation, the Fiordland Marine Guardians and Ngāi Tahu.
A united approach to marine biosecurity
As New Zealanders, we all cherish the sea and are concerned with any issues that put our marine values at risk.
Learn more about the united approach from the Top of the North Marine Biosecurity Partnership.
Addressing vessel biofouling in Hawai'i
Hawaiʻi took notice when New Zealand and California passed rules aimed at vessel biofouling.
Last year, the Hawaiʻi Interagency Biosecurity Plan was released that set 10 year goals for managing biosecurity risks including those posed by vessel biofouling.
New requirements to help reduce the risks from the marine environment outside of NZ
New Zealand is the first country in the world to introduce a nationwide standard for biofouling. From May this year, all commercial and recreational vessel operators have had to show they’ve managed biofouling on their vessels before they enter New Zealand waters.
We want your biosecurity news and events
Are you working hard to help protect New Zealand from pests and diseases? Or maybe you have an upcoming biosecurity event you'd like people to know about? Tell us what you're doing, and we'll help promote it on our new website and on our Facebook and Instagram channels.
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