MARCH 2009

Keen carp get to work

Beyond used vehicle inspections

Biodiversity improves ecosystem resilienceBiosecurity and Maori

Biosecurity magazine

Biosecurity is published six-weekly by MAF

Biosecurity New Zealand. It is of special

interest to all those with a stake in the

protection of New Zealand’s economic,

environmental and social assets from the

dangers posed by pests and diseases.

Animal welfare issues are also covered. The

articles in this magazine do not necessarily

reflect government policy.

For enquiries about specific articles, refer

to the contact listed at the end of each

article.

General enquiries (e.g. circulation requests

or information about

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand):

Biosecurity Magazine

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand

PO Box 2526

Pastoral House, 25 The Terrace,

Wellington, New Zealand

Phone: 04 894 0100

Fax: 04 894 0300

Email: biosecurity@maf.govt.nz

Internet: www.biosecurity.govt.nz

Editorial enquiries:

Phone 04 894 0774

ISSN 1174 – 4618

Production and printing management by

City Print Communications in association

with Context Public Policy

Communications.

Environmental Paper ProfileBiosecurity Magazine is printed on Sumo Gloss.

Sumo is an environmentally responsible paper

manufactured under the environmental

management system ISO 14001 using Elemental

Chlorine Free (ECF) pulp sourced from

sustainable, well managed forests.

90

C O N T E N T S

Editorial 3

Looking backwards into the future 4

Keen carp get to work 6

Sleeping monster of the deep 7

Coming the full circle 8

Understanding the risks to native plants 9

MFish Senior Analyst seconded to MAFBNZ 10

Maori fellowships bolster science 10

Biodiversity improves ecosystem resilience 11

Importing cats, dogs and canine semen 12

Eradicating white bryony infestations 13

Epidemiologist joins MAFBNZ 13

MAFBNZ inspectors go beyond inspecting used vehicles out of Japan 14

Preparing for emergencies 16

Updates 17

Directory 18

4 66666666 1411111111111111144444444444444444

MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND 3

90Er

ica

Greg

ory

E D I T O R I A L

Increasing Maori participation in the biosecurity systemMAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) has been

working hard over the past couple of years to engage

more positively with Maori on biosecurity issues, and

to increase Maori participation in the biosecurity

system. Underpinning this work is the Ministry of

Agriculture and Forestry’s (MAF’s) recognition of the

integral part Maori have to play in the sustainable

development of New Zealand’s primary sector and the

protection of our biosecurity status.

Māori have a significant economic interest in land and

forestry assets. The Māori contribution to the primary sector

includes:

• ownership of approximately 1.5 million hectares of land

valued at approximately $7.5 billion;

• farming of approximately 10–15 percent of New Zealand

sheep and cattle on Māori land;

• shareholding in Fonterra valued at approximately

$1 billion, with Māori dairy enterprises producing in

excess of 800,000 kg/milk solids seasonally; and

• turnover of Māori trusts and incorporations being as

large as the top half of companies listed on the New

Zealand stock exchange.

Māori have strong cultural links with land and water

environments. The protection of natural and biological

resources such as indigenous flora and fauna within these

environments is of utmost importance to Māori. These

resources are widely regarded by Māori to be taonga

(culturally important treasures). Because of this connection

there is a direct link between Māori and New Zealand’s

biosecurity system.

The Treaty of Waitangi and the partnership established

through this agreement is integral to the relationship

between Māori and the Crown. As a Crown agency, MAF

seeks to uphold the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Increased Māori and Treaty capability within MAF provides

a basis for greater collaboration between MAF and Māori.

Two concepts – capability and collaboration – provide the

focus for MAF’s strategy for responsiveness to Māori.

Capability focuses on building MAF’s internal capability to

develop effective and enduring relationships with Māori, and

enhancing the capability of staff to understand Māori issues

and concerns, and how they can be incorporated into MAF’s

planning and policy processes.

Collaboration focuses on MAF entering into effective and

enduring working relationships with Māori and other

government organisations working with Māori on

sustainable development. Key elements for building success

around the strategic goal involve MAF building trust and

confidence with Māori, providing for greater Māori

participation and building a greater understanding of the

context within which MAF makes decisions.

Over the next five years, MAF’s Māori Responsiveness

Strategy aims to:

• improve Māori participation and input into MAF

planning, policy development, research, standards setting

and operational activities;

• increase knowledge of Māori and Treaty issues across

MAF;

• improve the protection of Māori biologically based

economic and cultural resources from pests and diseases;

• increase opportunities for MAF to work with Māori

to optimise the economic potential of their land and

forestry assets; and

• improve MAF responsiveness to Māori by developing

productive working relationships with Māori.

MAF will know it is achieving excellence when it is:

• recognised as a key partner assisting Māori to achieve

their aspirations;

• engaged more in capacity building with Māori to support

the achievement of excellence in the primary sector;

Continued on next page ❯

4 MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND

90 BIOSECURITY AND MAORI

• developing research partnerships with Māori that aim to

support Māori capacity and capability in mātauranga

Māori me ona tikanga (the knowledge systems and

cultural practices that allow Māori to live, engage and

interact with their environment and world) in order to

provide knowledge and insights relevant to the

agricultural, food, forestry and biosecurity sectors;

• have working relationships with Māori and government

agencies that achieve excellence in the prevention from

harm and the protection of biological resources of

importance to Māori and New Zealanders;

• engaged in collaborative action with agencies to achieve

effective engagement with Māori and efficient use of

resources.

In this edition of Biosecurity we report some of the challenges

presented to MAFBNZ by Mere Roberts when she spoke at the

Biosecurity Summit prior to Christmas, take a look at a

response to hydrilla, a pest plant growing in Lake Tūtira, and

read about a research project into Māori values around

plants that is nearing completion.

As an organisation, MAF still has a way to go towards

delivering on the strategic goal it has set for itself. However,

in the process of doing so we will learn more from Māori

about ourselves and the environment that we are here to

protect.

The following whakatauki provides an apt conclusion.

Ki a koe tētehi kīwai, ki a au tētehi kīwai.

For you one handle of the basket and for me the other –

meaning that the work or the burden is to be shared equally.

Hei kona. No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou

katoa.

Erica Gregory, Senior Adviser (Biosecurity), MAF Maori Strategy Unit ■

E D I T O R I A L C O N T I N U E D

Looking backwards into the futureHokia nga whakaaro ki onamata, hei whakau onaianei kia anamata

Look to the past, so we can understand the present and plan for the future

Dr Mere Roberts, speaking at

the Biosecurity Summit,

warned of the need for the

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

(MAF) to take a broader view of what

might constitute a Māori perspective

on biosecurity.

Dr Roberts said it was important to

recognise that different peoples had

different relationships with different

species. For example, certain introduced

species, such as the kiore rat, were

regarded by some as taonga, while others

relied on introduced pest species such as

pigs, deer and possums for their

livelihood. There was thus no single

Māori perspective on biosecurity.

She said there was also a need to

recognise that “biosecurity” was a new

concept created in order to define and

categorise a subject area that did not exist

in traditional Māori society. Hence, any

explanation of traditional Māori views

on the subject would require redefining

of that knowledge in order to “fit”

modern definitions. This ran contrary to

the nature of Māori understandings and

relationships with their environment.

Dr Roberts drew on traditions about the

arrival of the human ancestors of Māori,

along with the plant and animal species

they brought with them in waka

(canoes).

These included kūmara, yam, taro, hue

(bottle gourd), a species of cabbage tree

(tī pore) and the aute (paper mulberry

tree), along with two introduced

mammals, the kiore rat and the kurī

(dog).

She said other species were almost

certainly introduced but failed to survive

(for example, breadfruit, banana,

pandanus and coconut) or were

accidental imports (such as various soil

invertebrates and/or micro-organisms).

Apart from the kiore, no invasive species

were introduced to New Zealand by

humans until Cook’s arrival with dogs,

chooks, pigs, cats and rats in 1769.

Species said to have been brought to New

Zealand by individual waka (and their

captains) were:

• Aotea (Turi) – kūmara (nine varieties)

and caterpillars, possibly taro, hue,

aute, tī tawhiti and tī manu (cabbage

trees), kiore and kurī, pāra (eel-like

fish), perei, possibly karaka seeds,

koromiko, pūkeko, kākāriki (gecko),

lizards, atua and sacred adzes.

• Horouta (Pawa) – kūmara, aruhe

(edible fern root), kowhai seed/

sapling, kiore, pukeko and two

pohutukawa.

• Tainui (Hoturoa) – kūmara

(10 varieties), hue, aute, ara, pūhue

(convulvulus), māwhai (plant

parasite), para, soil, kura.

• Te Wakatuwhenua – (possibly)

leprosy.

• Mangarara (Wheketoro) – tuatara,

kumukumu (lizard), teretere (gecko),

mokoparae (lizards), mokokakariki

(geckos), weri (centipedes), whē

(caterpillar), wētā, kēkerengū (black

beetle), praying mantis and stick

insect, tōrea (pied oyster catcher),

whioi (ground lark) and mohorangi

(kurī).

Dr Mere Roberts

MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND 5

90BIOSECURITY AND MAORI

Dr Roberts suggested that although

change was necessary in order to survive

in a different climate, there was little if

any need for “bioprotection” in this new

environment, which provided an

abundant and seemingly endless supply

of resources.

She also raised the question of whether

the kiore was a pest or a “pet”, and

suggested that the answer depended on a

person’s world view and relationship with

that animal.

She drew a parallel between the kiore and

the Kaimanawa horses. Both were closely

associated with humans in their ancestral

homelands, both were widespread in the

rest of the world, but in New Zealand both

endangered native species and their

habitats. Neither was native to New

Zealand and neither species was a

significantly different strain or breed from

non-New Zealand populations, and hence

deserved no special “rare” or endangered

species status.

However, significant differences were

that horses belonged to the “charismatic

megafauna” and their “victims” were

non-charismatic, little-known plant

species. In contrast, kiore were “non-

charismatic microfauna” that while

traditionally valued as food, following

colonisation, were now described as

“vermin” whose “victims” included

“charismatic” species such as birds.

The key biosecurity issues for Māori

were both political and cultural,

Dr Roberts said. The way forward

included a Māori responsiveness strategy

involving Māori with the following

guiding principles and ethical

framework:

• Treaty of Waitangi partnership

based on Treaty principles and

Māori values, for example, with

regional councils, the Department of

Conservation and Crown Research

Institutes.

• Meaningful participation including:

– meaningful consultation;

– capacity building of kaitiaki

knowledge and skills;

– resourcing;

– protection of taonga species,

habitats, ecosystems and waahi

tapu;

– incorporation of mātauranga

and tikanga (tangible and

intangible/spiritual) into policy

and planning documents,

and protection of intellectual

property.

Dr Roberts said the way forward for all

of the “bios” including biosecurity,

bioprotection, biodiversity,

bioprospecting and biotechnology

included:

• a focus on the future – on assisting

Māori to develop new and

appropriate mātauranga and tikanga

associated with these areas;

• incorporation of Māori values and

principles (traditional and Treaty

based);

• empowerment of mana whenua

as the custodians and kaitiaki of

knowledge concerning their own

rohe and taonga, and responsible for

their protection;

• seeking integration of knowledge

and strategies across sectors to reflect

the holistic nature of kaitiakitanga,

mātauranga and tikanga pertaining

to each of the “bios”.

• Dr Roberts is of Māori (Ngāti

Apakura, Ngāti Hikairo) and

Pākehā descent. From 1972 until

2004 she was a staff member of the

University of Auckland’s Schools

of Medicine Biological Sciences

and Environmental Sciences

before being appointed Head of

Science at Te Whare Wānanga o

Awanuiārangi, one of three Māori

tertiary educational institutions. She

is currently an Honorary Research

Fellow at the University of Auckland.

Dr Roberts has represented Māori

interests on a number of government

advisory committees including the

Foundation for Research, Science

and Technology (FRST); the United

Nations Educational, Scientific and

Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

New Zealand science subcommittee;

Ngā Kaihautū Tikanga Taiao (the

Māori Advisory Committee to the

Environmental Risk Management

Authority or ERMA); Ministry for

Economic Development working

group on bioprospecting; and

the Ministry of Agriculture and

Forestry’s Ministerial Advisory

Committee on Biosecurity. She is

also a Director of Environmental

and Scientific Research (ESR). Her

research interests are in indigenous

knowledge systems and ecological

knowledge, with a focus on

mātauranga pūtaiao (Māori scientific

knowledge).

Above, from left: New Zealand kiore (rat), waka (canoe) and kumara root.

Ti pore (cordyline fruticosa or cabbage tree).

6 MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND

90

Thousands of eager allies

have joined the battle

against an unwelcome

aquatic weed.

MAF Biosecurity New

Zealand (MAFBNZ)

successfully released 3000

grass carp into Lakes Tūtira, Waikopiro

and Opouahi on 11 December 2008 as

part of the response to eradicate the

highly invasive freshwater aquatic

weed hydrilla. Grass carp (also known

as white amur) graze on aquatic plants

and were used to eliminate hydrilla in

Lake Eland, also in Hawkes Bay.

“They are the most suitable method of

biological control for hydrilla

eradication,” MAFBNZ Senior Adviser,

Pest Management, Victoria Lamb says.

“Scientists estimate that the hydrilla

weed beds should begin to reduce in

size about eighteen months after grass

carp are introduced into the lakes. The

weed beds should disappear completely

within three to four years following the

release of the carp.”

Ms Lamb says grass carp were bred

especially for the purpose. “They

cannot breed naturally in New Zealand

waterways, so they can be removed or

will naturally die-out once they have

done their job.”

Approval to release the carp into the

lakes was granted by the Department

of Conservation and Fish and Game

New Zealand Hawkes Bay, supported

by the Hawkes Bay Regional Council

and local iwi.

“Hydrilla weed beds at high risk sites

in the lakes – such as around boat

ramps and entry points – were treated

with the ERMA-approved aquatic

herbicide endothall before the grass

carp were released,” Ms Lamb says.

“A survey by National Institute of

Water and Atmospheric Research

(NIWA) scientists a month later found

the weed beds had collapsed as

expected.”

Barriers to prevent the movement of

grass carp from Lakes Waikopiro and

Tūtira were placed between the lakes

and at the outlet of Lake Tūtira to

ensure the fish remained in their

allotted lakes to maintain the grazing

pressure on the hydrilla.

Hydrilla verticillata

BIOSECURITY AND MAORI

Grass Carp

MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND 7

90

A sizeable gathering of partners, iwi,

stakeholders, locals and school

children were on hand on 11

December to greet the 3000 fish after

their overnight journey from a fish

farm north of Auckland.

Before the fish were released into the

lakes they had to undergo one final

biosecurity check and acclimatise to

the local water before being placed in a

temporary holding pen ready for

release. At Lake Tūtira, Ngāti

Pahauwera kaumātua Charlie King

delivered a karakia before the carp

were released by Henare Ratima (Ngāti

Kurimokihi) and Neil Daykin (Hawkes

Bay Regional Council).

At Lake Opouahi, some of the fish were

released into the lake, while others were

held in a fenced containment area by

the jetty, the site of the biggest hydrilla

bed.

“The fish inside the fence completed

their work in very quick time and were

released at the end of February, two

months earlier than anticipated,”

Ms Lamb says.

“NIWA staff will return to the lakes in

April 2009 to monitor the effectiveness

of the response. Scientists estimate that

the hydrilla weed beds should reduce in

size by about mid-2010 and disappear

completely within three to four years.”

MAFBNZ has worked closely with

partners and stakeholders throughout

the response.

“MAFBNZ contractor Ian Gear worked

closely with Ngāti Tu kaumātua Bevan

Taylor and Ngāti Pahauwera kaumātua

Charlie King, and with other land-

owners to build a shared understanding

of the possible options and tools for

eradicating hydrilla,” Ms Lamb says.

“Information was shared with iwi and

stakeholders to ensure those with an

interest in the Tūtira lakes were aware

of the risks posed by hydrilla,

management options and the tools

required to successfully eradicate the

weed.

“It was important that the local people

were involved, understood the risks

and options around hydrilla and felt

comfortable with the response options.

“MAFBNZ was in turn made aware of

the issues and concerns relating to the

response that were held by Māori and

other adjoining land owners, and was

able to address them.”

Hydrilla was first detected in Lakes

Tūtira and Waikopiro in 1963 and later

found in Lakes Opouahi and Eland.

Weed beds of hydrilla are a nuisance to

lake users such as bathers, anglers and

boat users. Plant material washed

ashore rots, reducing the aesthetic

value of the lakes, creating an eyesore.

It can also clog hydroelectric dams and

block water intakes in water bodies

where it is present, costing millions of

dollars each year to clean up.

SLEEPING MONSTER OF THE DEEPHydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) is recognised as one of the world’s worst submerged waterweeds. It is native to Asia and northern Australia and is now found on every continent except Antarctica. Hydrilla has been used overseas as an “oxygen weed” in pet fish tanks and ponds.

It out-competes other aquatic plants including natives and its tubers can remain dormant in sediments for up to 10 years waiting for the right conditions to grow.

Hydrilla has slender stems that can grow up to the surface in water as deep as 9 metres from crowns rooted in the substrate. Leaves are 6 to 20 millimetres long and 2 to 4 millimetres wide. The leaves are strap-shaped with pointed tips and saw-tooth edges, and they grow in whorls of four to eight around the stem. Leaf colour can vary from green to translucent, yellowish or brown. Hydrilla produces turions (buds) in the axils of leaves and tubers (like little potatoes). Both turions and tubers winter-over within the sediment. Only male plants are present in New Zealand.

Hydrilla is one of 11 established pests of national interest MAFBNZ aims to eradicate or control in New Zealand. These pests were selected for a national response because of their potential to have a significant impact on our economic, environmental, social and cultural values.

For more information about the hydrilla response, see: www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests/hydrilla

Propagation, spread and sale of hydrilla is prohibited under the Biosecurity Act 1993. If you suspect the presence of hydrilla you must report it to MAF Biosecurity New Zealand on 0800 80 99 66.

MAFBNZ introduced grass carp into Lakes Tutira, Waikopiro and Opouahi as part of its response to eradicate the highly invasive freshwater aquatic weed hydrilla from the lakes. Photo: Ian Gear – Ian Gear Global.

BIOSECURITY AND MAORI

-

8 MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND

90

COMING THE FULL CIRCLEMAFBNZ’s hydrilla response has given aquatic ecologist Laurel Teirney the opportunity to complete research

she started 35 years ago for the (then) Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

During sampling trips Ms Teirney and her colleague, Steve

Pullen, lived in the Scinde Anglers Club hut by the lake.

“We had no electricity or hot water, no showers – it was pretty

primitive. And there were no computers in those days so

everything had to be written up by hand,” says Ms Teirney.

Manual recording of the data collected at Tūtira proved to be

invaluable when MAFBNZ commissioned Ms Teirney to write

up the research as part of the hydrilla response.

“After we completed the research I was diverted onto other

priority projects and never got to write it up. It was by sheer

coincidence that when I was asked to be on the National

Interest Pests Response Technical Advisory Group for

MAFBNZ, Victoria Lamb [MAFBNZ Senior Adviser, Pest

Management] discovered that I had carried out some research

on Tūtira all those years ago and was keen to get some baseline

data for the hydrilla response.

“I was delighted to be asked to write the research up. It was

always in the back of my mind as it was the only piece of

research I had never written up.”

Ms Teirney then set about finding the “big red book” where

she had so meticulously recorded the Tūtira data all those

years ago.

“I knew it was in one of the boxes in the garage roof that had

survived several shifts of house. Luckily I found it without

looking in too many boxes.

“It feels so right to be completing something I started at the

beginning of my career – it is like coming full circle.”

“It was my first job out of university and I was asked to

undertake a project to improve the water quality of

Lake Tūtira,” she says.

“MAF had been approached by the Hawkes Bay Acclimatisation

Board, which was concerned that the trout population was being

affected by the poor water quality of the lake.

“Heavy fertilizer use in the Tūtira catchment had led to

increased nutrients, algal blooms and a decline of water quality

in the lake.

“When the algae died it decomposed as it sank to the bottom,

using up oxygen in the deeper water until none was left.

Oxygen in the deeper water cannot be replenished in summer

because the temperature of the lake water forms three layers –

the surface layer can warm up to 25 degrees celsius; the

thermocline where the temperature drops within a few metres

to 10 degrees; and the deeper water trapped beneath the

thermocline that remains at 10 degrees. Surface temperatures

are too high for trout and deoxygenated water from the

thermocline down is lethal. This was far from an optimal

environment for trout,” says Ms Teirney.

“It was thought that mixing the layers [destratifying the water

column] by blowing air through large pipes in the lake could

improve the water quality.”

Detailed sampling of the lake was carried out every one to two

months for two years prior to the installation of the pipes to

establish baseline data for the project. Monitoring and sampling

continued for two years after the pipes were installed and

operating.

BIOSECURITY AND MAORI

Collecting data at Lake Tutira in 1974 (L-R) Ann Chapman, Waikato University; Tom Northcote, University of British Columbia; Allan Kilner, MAF; Laurel Teirney, MAF; Lloyd Gledhill, MAF.

Laurel Teirney (National Interest Pests Response Technical Advisory Group) and Steve Pullen (Ministry of Fisheries) at Lake Tutira 35 years after they worked together on a project to improve the water quality of the lake. Photo: Ian Gear – Ian Gear Global.

MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND 9

90

Understanding the risks to native plants from a Maori perspective MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) and Maori are working to better

understand how to assess and manage risks to native plants.

Assessing the potential impacts

of introduced species on native

plants can be difficult, since

more than 80 percent of New Zealand’s

native plants grow only in New Zealand.

MAFBNZ has identified a need to better

understand how potential pests on

native plants could affect Māori cultural

values, so that these values can be

properly incorporated into biosecurity

decision-making processes.

Working with four iwi around New

Zealand, and with Boffa Miskell and

Landcare Research, MAFBNZ is close

to completing work that will enhance

understanding of how different iwi

value and may be affected by threats to

native plants.

Workshops were held around the

country with iwi and hapū to discuss

the value they placed on specific native

plants and possible threats there were to

those plants.

A booklet, put together by Boffa Miskell

and Landcare Research, gave

participants a resource to take away and

refer to in case they were involved in a

response affecting native plants.

The workshops gave MAFBNZ staff an

opportunity to meet members of

various iwi and hapū, and to listen to

their views and perceptions around

native plants. Most MAFBNZ staff only

have an opportunity meet and talk with

Māori when in the middle of a response

to a pest or disease.

Although the final report is not yet

complete, MAFBNZ staff have already

gained a lot from this project.

Both groups highlighted the importance

of MAFBNZ staff and iwi and hapū

being alert to finding ways to keep

communication lines open.

Melanie Newfield, Senior Adviser, ■

Risk Analysis (Indigenous Flora), MAFBNZ, melanie.newfield@maf.govt.nz

BIOSECURITY AND MAORI

10 MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND

90

The 10 Te Tipu Pūtaiao

Fellowships are for research to

improve New Zealand’s scientific

knowledge and enhance Māori

involvement in scientific study, and are

worth between $25,000 and $274,000.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand

Manager Strategic Science Team, Senior

Science Adviser (Marine), Naomi

Parker says: “It is great to see this

initiative, in particular a project that will

be investigating issues around marine

reserves and invasive species, as well as

the effect of marine constructions, such

as wharves and artificial reefs, on

marine life.

“These fellowships are well aligned with

the Biosecurity Science Strategy,

released in 2007, in particular the

objective to support the contribution of

Māori to achieving biosecurity

outcomes and strengthen the links

between Mātauranga Māori me ona

tikanga and biosecurity science.”

The Te Tipu Pūtaiao Fellowship scheme

is open to all New Zealanders, providing

funding support for students

undertaking Masters, PhD and

post-doctorate research, as well as

supporting employment opportunities

for new and emerging scientists through

the Bridge to Employment scheme. Up

to 20 recipients each year receive a

stipend, tuition fees, research related

costs and other expenses to help

develop their scientific and Māori

knowledge research capabilities.

The Foundation’s Strategy Manager for

Māori Research and Innovation, Pereri

Hathaway, says the fellowships

encourage emerging scientists and help

explore potential opportunities

involving Māori knowledge that may

result in improved economic, social,

environmental and cultural benefits for

New Zealand.

“Assistance through the scheme

encourages Māori students into

scientific studies and also improves

educational opportunities for all

researchers, potentially unlocking fresh

innovative or entrepreneurial prospects

involving Māori knowledge and

resources,” he says.

The successful fellowship researchers and

their projects include:

Danielle Fox, University of Waikato. Danielle is originally from Gisborne, of

Ngāti Porou/Ngāti Tūwharetoa descent,

working towards her Masters degree. Her

year-long marine research will be based

around Goat Island near the Leigh Marine

Reserve north of Auckland, Tawharenui

(south of Leigh), Cathedral Cove on the

Coromandel Peninsula and the northern

Gisborne coastline. Leigh was New

Zealand’s first marine reserve, created in

1975. Overseas studies have found invasive

species become more abundant and prey

upon native species in such reserves.

Danielle’s research will check marine

reserve populations and also investigate the

effect of marine constructions, such as

wharves, marina, bridge pile structures and

artificial reefs, on marine life.

Nicholas Hay, University of Otago. Nicholas completed a Masters degree in

marine conservation at Victoria University.

He is studying the reasons for the depletion

of Tuaki, the New Zealand cockle, from the

Otago Harbour. The cockle is valuable to

tangata whenua as a taonga species for

subsistence and customary harvest.

Nicholas’s research aims to develop a

baseline study of size and distribution of

cockle beds around Otago and to provide

scientific information for monitoring and

managing harvests of marine resources,

with greater emphasis on community

involvement.

Robert (Rob) Win, University of Otago. Rob, originally from Nelson and studying

for a Masters degree in marine science, is

researching the impact of land use and the

dumping of harbour dredging on rocky

reef fish, such as blue cod, moki and butter

fish. Rob will monitor and study the

numbers of larval and juvenile fish in

coastal marine environments to help

taiāpure managers to identify critical

habitats for protection. His study will

provide a scientific basis for regulating

future land use on coastal boundaries. The

two-and-a-half year project also involves

an underwater survey of adult fish

numbers to give the baseline data on fish

health and populations.

Maori fellowships bolster scienceTen New Zealand university students have received Foundation for Research, Science and Technology fellowships for innovative Maori research projects.

MFish Senior Analyst seconded to MAFBNZMinistry of Fisheries (MFish) Senior Analyst Bob Johnston began a one-year secondment with MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) in late January 2009, joining the Environmental and Marine Response Team in the Post Border Directorate.

BIOSECURITY AND MAORI

Marine biosecurity policy, regulations, and science work was transferred from MFish to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) in November 2004. The two agencies continue to work closely together, through forums and projects, on a range of strategic and operational issues concerning biosecurity in the marine environment.

Bob’s secondment will expose him to a wide range of marine biosecurity issues and provide opportunities for his input into MAFBNZ’s operational and strategic processes.

“I’ve been looking forward to it,” he says. “It’s an interesting and challenging area of work and MFish has a vested interest in ensuring that the MAFBNZ marine work is successful.

“MFish has an interest in any organism that might harm the sustainable use of fisheries. For instance, a harmful exotic species might slip into our waters through discharged ballast water, or by attaching to vessel hulls. We’re invested in any process, system, policy, or strategy that minimises the risks to our aquatic environment.”

Bob will be working on a variety of issues, including marine biosecurity partnerships, incursion responses and surveillance for pests and diseases in aquaculture and fishery areas.

MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND 11

90SUMMIT

Biodiversity improves ecosystem resilience

Professor Wratten says biodiversity delivers “nature’s

services”, which can ameliorate the impact of invaders.

This is particularly relevant in agriculture

“monocultures” (large areas of a single crop), where

biodiversity loss is normal but the consequences of which

can be difficult to detect.

He says that with overseas markets demanding reductions in

pesticide residues and real evidence of sustainability, New

Zealand needs biodiversity-driven resilience across all its

vulnerable monocultures.

Prof Wratten, who leads the Bio-Protection Research Centre

research team behind the “Greening Waipara” vineyard

biodiversity project in North Canterbury, says the keys to

improving resilience to pests in vineyards and other crops are

shelter, nectar, pollen and alternative prey.

For example, nectar from strips of flowering buckwheat in

vineyards improves the biocontrol efficacy of pest-

controlling wasps to such an extent that insecticides are no

longer needed.

New Zealand native plants with the potential to enhance

biodiversity are also now being put in under the grape vines,

and the future of New Zealand’s agricultural landscape could

well be a mix of natives and exotics grown amongst crops,

Prof Wratten says.

Greening Waipara was established in 2006 to enhance the

sustainability and biodiversity of winegrowing in the Waipara

Valley, about 40 minutes drive north of Christchurch. It is part

of a six-year Foundation for Research, Science and Technology

(FRST)–funded Lincoln University research project.

About 50 wineries have joined the project, which also has

funding from the Bio-Protection Research Centre, Waipara

Valley Winegrowers Association, the Japanese health food

company Four Leaf, which promotes socially and

environmentally responsible business, and the Hurunui

District Council.

This summer, three of the vineyards opened biodiversity

trails close to their respective tasting rooms or restaurants,

complete with information boards and an educational quiz

for children. The trails wind through vines and native plants,

showing visitors how Greening Waipara benefits New

Zealand’s wine production by encouraging nature’s services

– pollination and pest and disease control, as well as weed

suppression, improved soil quality, conservation and

eco-tourism. These add value to the vineyards while

reducing reliance on herbicides and chemical pesticides.

The aim now is to take these Functional Agricultural

Biodiversity (FAB) approaches to all of New Zealand’s main

wine growing regions and to the arable and pastoral sectors.

Prof Wratten is Professor of Ecology at Lincoln University, Deputy Director ■

of the Bio-Protection Research Centre, visiting Professor at the universities

of Sydney and Charles Sturt, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of New

Zealand. He holds five degrees, including a Cambridge MA and two “higher

doctorates” (DSc). He is on the editorial board of seven international

journals, and his own refereed publications number more than 350,

including six books. He manages a prominent international research group

specialising in ecosystem services on farmland, including the ecological

basis of biological control of pests. His group pioneered the concept of

predator refugia, in the form of “beetle banks”. He has served on research

committees of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Foundation for Research,

Science and Technology and the Ministry of Research, Science and

Technology. He also writes for The Press and New Zealand Gardener.

A Californian broccoli paddock, where the grower has adopted Professor Wratten’s ecosystem resilience technology. The blue and white flower strips are phacelia (blue) and buckwheat (white).

Native plantings outside the Mud House vineyard and restaurant in Waipara – part of the Greening Waipara project.

Appropriate biodiversity in agriculture makes a real difference, Lincoln University Professor of Ecology

Steve Wratten told delegates at the Biosecurity Summit.

12 MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND

90 FRONTLINE NEWS

Importing cats, dogs and canine semenanalysis some years ago. The scope covered domestic cats,

dogs and canine semen from anywhere in the world.

The methodology used follows the standard MAFBNZ risk

analysis procedures.

A project team was established with representatives from the

Department of Conservation, Ministry of Health, Ministry of

Fisheries, New Zealand Food Safety Authority and Ministry

of Agriculture and Forestry. In 2005, the project team

finalised a preliminary hazard list on which the risk analysis

was to be based.

Organisms identified as potential hazards are subjected to

individual risk assessments, which includes consideration of

the likelihood of entry (the disease agent being present at the

time of animal importation), likelihood of exposure (spread

and establishment if imported) and the likely adverse

consequences if the organism did establish. Options for

managing the risks are presented for organisms concluded to

be hazards in the imported animals.

Many organisms do not warrant risk management because

they are transmitted only by specific ticks, flies or

mosquitoes not present in New Zealand. However, if new

species of ticks or mosquitoes were to establish here in the

future, this might trigger further analysis for some of these

organisms.

MAFBNZ plans to release the draft risk analysis for public

consultation in the near future. Submissions from interested

parties on the import risk analysis, will be invited at that time.

The draft import risk analysis will be placed on the MAF website when it is released. To ■

register interest in receiving a hard copy by post, contact: Risk Analysis Team Support Officer, MAFBNZ, email risk.analysis@maf.govt.nz or phone (04) 894 0310.

MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) will soon be

releasing a draft import risk analysis on the importation

of domestic cats, dogs and canine semen.

About 2000 cats and 3100 dogs are imported in to

New Zealand each year. The majority come from

Australia (60 percent) followed by the United

Kingdom (23 percent) and the United States (8 percent).

Imports are restricted to about 40 countries, although there

are an increasing number of requests to import these animals

from countries that are not currently eligible.

Since the movement in people – and therefore the trade in

pet cats and dogs – is becoming global, and because not all

countries are eligible to export, MAFBNZ began a risk

PEOP

LE IN

BIO

SECU

RITY

Deng Han (Leo) recently joined the MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) Border Standards Directorate as a Business Analyst in the Programme Development Group. Leo was previously a lecturer at Victoria University, Massey University and Whitireia Community Polytechnic Business Schools in Wellington. He was also a Business Analyst at Electronic Data Systems (EDS), and just prior to joining MAFBNZ, was a Business Consultant with Objective

Corporation. Leo emigrated to New Zealand from Malaysia in 1998, and has worked and studied here since gaining various postgraduate qualifications.

Quentin Richards has joined the Border Standards Directorate as a Business Analyst in the Programme Development Group. Quentin’s spent many years in the container shipping industry before undertaking contract roles in both the private and public sectors. Quentin brings experience in systems and business process development, implementation of those systems and in developing practical performance monitoring.

Megan Hirsch recently joined the Border Standards Directorate as an Executive Co-ordinator in the Business Support Group. She has worked in the public sector since receiving her Bachelor’s degree in 2006. Megan studied international economics at the University of California, San Diego, with a secondary focus in African studies.

Gisele Irvine has recently joined the Border Standards Directorate as a Senior Adviser in the Plant Exports Group. Gisele comes from Biosecurity Victoria, Australia, where she worked with the Plant Standards Branch for three years. She was involved in the implementation of an enhanced biosecurity system for plant industries, including project development and management, involvement in the management of Queensland fruit fly

outbreaks, investigations into new pest incursions and a brief foray into the world of IT systems. Prior to that, Gisele worked as a research scientist in plant pathology with the Department of Primary Industries in Victoria for 16 years. The research projects she was involved with included the utilisation of new diagnostic technologies for plant disease identification, control strategies for vegetable diseases and reviews into disease pathways. Gisele and her family have returned home to New Zealand after living overseas for 22 years.

Vicky Kitekei’aho has joined the Border Standards Directorate as a Team Support Officer in the Business Support Group. She previously worked for AsureQuality in the Food Laboratory in Lower Hutt, where she was involved in testing cattle serum, meat products and environmental samples. She has a degree in biomedical science from Victoria University of Wellington.

Z

w

S

wt

VDSthinsV

MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND 13

90FRONTLINE NEWS

ERADICATING WHITE BRYONY INFESTATIONS

White bryony is a pest plant

that has the potential to

smother native vegetation

and may be poisonous to stock if

consumed in large quantities.

White bryony (Bryonia cretica subsp.

dioica) is a cucumber-like vine that

rapidly grows up to 6 metres tall,

smothering and shading out whatever it

grows on. The female plants produce

bunches of five to eight small red berries

from January to April, which can be

spread by birds. The vine dies back in

autumn leaving a large underground

tuber that can sprout again.

It has only been found in two places in

New Zealand – around Mokai in the

Taihape area and at Aria and the

Mokauiti Valley in the King Country.

This limited distribution means there is

a realistic chance of eradicating it before

it spreads any further, says Jaap

Knegtmans from MAF Biosecurity New

Zealand (MAFBNZ), which is working

in partnership with the Department of

Conservation (DOC), Horizons

Regional Council and Environment

Waikato on an eradication programme

for white bryony.

Control work at the Rangitikei site is

supervised by Jack Beveridge from the

DOC Mangaweka Field Centre. Teams

are in the field during the growing

season from November to March.

Teams first search areas of known

infestations – mainly around Mokai and

along the river cliffs of the Rangitikei

River, Mr Beveridge says.

The plant can be found in a range of

places, including hedges, fence lines, in

rank grass, second growth native forest

and under kahikatea forest. It is often

found where birds roost.

Mr Beveridge says the rugged terrain

means various methods are used to

track down the plants.

We abseil into the more difficult to

reach places on river cliffs around

Mokai and also use rafts to search from

the river.

All plants found are destroyed by

cutting out the crowns and treating the

remainder with herbicide.

The white bryony eradication

programme is part of the national

interest pests initiative led by MAFBNZ

in partnership with DOC and regional

councils. It is both an unwanted

organism and a notifiable under the

Biosecurity Act 1993 and is banned

from sale, propagation or distribution.

Sighting of white bryony must be

reported to MAFBNZ on 0800 88 9966.

More information is on the MAFBNZ website: ■

www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests/white-bryony

Over 2500 white bryony plants have been destroyed in this season’s

white bryony eradication response programme work in Rangitikei.

Epidemiologist joins MAFBNZPaul White has recently joined MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) as the Surveillance Team Manager (Animals) in the Post Border Directorate’s Surveillance Group.

Paul’s previous positions include three years as a Research Assistant in the Medicines Research Unit, School of Health, University of Derby, United Kingdom. During this time he trained in epidemiology at the Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, then moved north as one of the founding members of the University of Sheffield’s Public Health Geographical Information Sciences Unit, in the Department of Public Health.

After moving to New Zealand, Paul worked for the Ministry of Health (MoH) as the Principal Technical Specialist in spatial epidemiology, supervising the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) team and spatial epidemiology research within what was until recently Public Health Intelligence (PHI). This group provided advice on spatial epidemiology, surveillance and pandemic preparedness planning to the Ministry and across the wider health sector.

A significant platform of work during Paul’s time at MoH was the development of the Ministry’s influenza-like-illness syndromic sentinel surveillance system – the first national year-round surveillance system using multiple data sources in New Zealand, with data collected daily and reported weekly.

He holds a BA (Hons), an MSc (for which he undertook research using GIS to explore environmental and spatial patterning of asthma prescribing) and a PhD (for which he undertook research in developing methods for using GIS in public health and epidemiology). His research interests are centred on spatial epidemiology with particular reference to the application of spatial methods for outbreak detection, syndromic surveillance and infectious diseases.

Paul holds two honorary appointments – as adjunct senior fellow, Department of Geography, University of Canterbury, and research fellow, Centre of Public Health Research, Massey University. He also teaches at the Wellington School of Medicine, Otago University. These roles involve contributing to undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing professional development programmes in public health, epidemiology and health geography.

P l’ i iti i l d th

14 MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND

90 FRONTLINE NEWS

MAFBNZ inspectors go beyond inspecting used vehicles out of Japan

The tower sections were contaminated

with insect egg masses and spider egg

sacks in the bolted steel plate region,

while leaves and soil were found under

the cables in the smallest tower

sections of each of the two units.

Again, all were removed.

During re-inspection of the covered

units, pine needles were found in the

gaps between the sections of the

windmill tower and wooden cradles.

These were picked out with long-

handled tweezers. There were pine

needles on the ground which had

been blown off the surrounding trees

by strong winds during the previous

few days.

Directly after checking the windmill

units, the truck inspection began.

Gross contamination including rose

bush branches, leaves and soil was

found in the trucks and steel cradles.

The rose branches were removed by

hand and the leaves swept off the

trucks with bamboo brooms.

This pre-shipment inspection showed

the benefit of keeping these biosecurity

risks offshore, and saved a lot of time

and effort at the arrival port in New

Zealand. The cleaning and

decontamination of this cumbersome

equipment in New Zealand would

have had to be carried out at a

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry-

approved area on the wharf to contain

any foreign contaminants. Any

cleaning requirements, directed by

MAFBNZ quarantine inspectors, can

result in considerable delays for the

importer, additional cleaning costs

and potentially demurrage costs, if

the cargo is not removed from the

wharf area within days of arrival.

Another example of a recent offshore

pre-inspection involved a Japanese

cruise ship destined for New Zealand.

Pre-shipment inspection not only keeps biosecurity risks offshore but also helps minimise potential delays in clearance, writes MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) Team Manager Offshore, Sue Gould.

MAFBNZ has seven

quarantine inspectors

working at various sites

throughout Japan pre-inspecting used

vehicles before they are shipped to

New Zealand. This work is done

under contract to four different

operators working in Japan.

We were approached recently to also

inspect some used wind turbines prior

to shipping to New Zealand. MAFBNZ

Quarantine Inspector Gavin Hansen,

from our Auckland cargo inspection

group, is based at an inspection site at

Kisarazu, in Tokyo Bay working for

Autoterminal Japan. Given the quieter

period over December including

working our Christmas Day, Gavin

was released from his worksite to assist

with the wind turbine pre-shipment

inspection.

All parts of the equipment, including

tower sections and blades, were

inspected – and soil, leaves, live

insects, spiders, spider egg sacks and

insect eggs and cocoons were found.

Soil, plant material, insect eggs and

spiders were found in the gaps

between the steel bolts that connect

the blades onto the central propeller

head. These were scraped out or

blown out with compressed air.

The view from the cruise ship Nippon Maru, during a pre-departure MAFBNZ inspection at the Yokohama Passenger Terminal, Japan.

MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND 15

90FRONTLINE NEWS

Kevin Hawkes, from the MAFBNZ

Auckland wharf site and currently

contracted to work at the Japan

Export Vehicle Inspection Centre

Co., Ltd. (JEVIC) Yokohama site, was

the ideal quarantine inspector for the

job because of his considerable

experience as a shipping inspector in

New Zealand.

The vessel was Nippon Maru, a

medium-sized Japanese cruise ship.

The ship required inspection for

evidence of Asian Gypsy Moth

(AGM) having visited the high-risk

ports of Korsakov, Russia, and

Hakodate, Japan, during the moth’s

flight season in September 2008.

The inspection was done at the

Yokohama Passenger Terminal on

22 January. Kevin was accompanied

by a JEVIC representative as an

observer. JEVIC carries out these

vessel inspections for other countries

too, so this was a useful exercise for

both parties in knowledge sharing.

The inspectors were welcomed on

board by the Captain, who assigned

his second officer to accompany them

and attend to their requirements.

They needed ladders to access higher

parts of the vessel and also used a

mirror on a long handle.

Inspection started on the top (eighth)

deck, working methodically down the

vessel. The seventh deck had a pool

area covered by a plastic-panelled

opening roof. A dead egg mass

measuring approximately 2 cm was

found on one of the plastic panels

and removed.

A “Certificate of Freedom from

Gypsy Moth” was issued by Kevin

when no further evidence of AGM

was found.

Without this offshore inspection the

vessel would have needed to be

boarded at sea 8 km off the

New Zealand coast during daylight

hours by MAFBNZ quarantine

inspectors. The inspection normally

takes most of a day to complete, thus

delaying entry to the port. Any delay

in cruising schedules has a negative

impact on New Zealand’s tourism

industry, not to mention the

discomfort for passengers sitting off

the coast in any potential swell.

Nippon Maru voyage 807 departed

Yokohama on 23 January, sailing via

Port Villa and Nukualofa, to arrive in

Auckland on 11 February. It departed

our waters on 14 February.

The help and co-operation received

from Captain Murakami and his crew

was much appreciated. Thanks also to

both of the Japan operators for their

generous understanding in releasing

our MAFBNZ quarantine inspectors

to facilitate these offshore pre-

inspections.

Sue Gould, Team Manager Offshore, MAFBNZ, ■

sue.gould@maf.govt.nz

MAFBNZ's Kevin Hawkes inspects the Japanese cruise ship Nippon Maru.

Wind turbines in Japan prior to shipping to New Zealand.

16 MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND

90 BIOSECURITY SYSTEMS

PREPARING FOR EMERGENCIES

A joint agency training workshop

has helped MAF Biosecurity New

Zealand (MAFBNZ) staff be well

prepared for managing major

biosecurity incursions.

MAFBNZ Investigation and

Diagnostic Centre (IDC)

Wallaceville incursion

investigators and laboratory team

managers recently attended a three day

Co-ordinated Incident Management

System (CIMS) training workshop. They

were joined at Wallaceville by the

MAFBNZ Incursion Response System

team, along with staff from other

agencies, including the New Zealand

Defence Force, Institute of

Environmental Science and Research,

Department of Corrections, New

Zealand Food Safety Authority and

private sector supermarket company

Foodstuffs.

Training was provided at IDC

Wallaceville by tutors from the

Emergency Management Academy,

which is based in Palmerston North. A

large part of the three days included

scenario-based exercises, where

participants were expected to perform

the main roles making up an incident

management team.

CIMS was developed in 1997 by the New

Zealand Fire Service and other

emergency agencies as a common and

co-ordinated approach to incident

management. The CIMS model is used

to manage incidents ranging in size from

car accidents to large scale disasters, such

as major earthquakes. In recent years,

CIMS has been increasingly adopted by

other agencies and businesses

throughout New Zealand as a valuable

model to improve the management of

emergency incidents.

Incident management systems are not

new – the first such system was developed

in 1970 in Southern California in

response to large forest fires, and similar

national systems have been developed in

many countries throughout the world.

Key elements of CIMS are a common

terminology and organisational structure

so that different agencies can work

together with a clear understanding of

these. Other vital elements include

integration of communications,

maintaining a manageable span of

control, recognition of certain designated

incident facilities and planning.

During 2008, MAFBNZ investigators

and team managers from both the

Animals and Marine, and the Plant and

Environment Incursion Investigation

teams have undertaken CIMS Level 4

training.

The management of investigation and

initial response activities form a core part

of the workload for both these teams and

often have much in common with the

fast-paced management required for

emergency incident management.

Deployment of incursion investigators

earlier this year during Exercise

Resolution, a police-lead counter-

terrorist simulation exercise, gave plenty

of opportunity to use the CIMS skills in a

multi-agency environment.

During Exercise Resolution, Caleb King,

an IDC Wallaceville Incursion

Investigator, filled the role of Operations

Manager based at the Exotic Disease

Response Centre. Caleb had recently

attended the CIMS training and found

many of the planning skills extremely

valuable.

“Experience of the CIMS model allowed

me to quickly prioritise the issues at hand

with [the exercise scenario of] a possible

release of an unknown biological agent

on a farm in Raglan, and identify and

assign tasks to different operational

units,” he says.

“The use of concise situation reports that

were taught during the CIMS training

were also invaluable to quickly inform

strategic leadership of the rapidly

changing situation on the ground.”

Internationally, incident management

systems have been proven to increase the

efficiency and effectiveness of incident

management by avoiding duplication of

effort and increasing integration of

different agencies.

For example, in a large response to an

exotic animal disease, such as Foot and

Mouth Disease (FMD), available

resources would be quickly exhausted,

requiring the involvement of other

government agencies and private

companies. This situation occurred

during the United Kingdom’s FMD

outbreak in 2001.

IDC Wallaceville Incursion Investigator

Chris Morley was working for the UK

Government in both field and

management roles during that time.

“One of the biggest problems I observed

in the early days of the FMD outbreak

was the inability of regional veterinary

and animal health managers to quickly

scale up and lead large numbers of

people from other agencies,” he says.

“This was not surprising as they had not

had to do this before, had little support

and they had not been trained in this

role. Had these managers been exposed

and trained in CIMS, I’m convinced their

effectiveness – and consequently the

overall outbreak management – would

have been significantly improved.”

The skills developed through CIMS

training are used regularly during the

management of biosecurity incursions.

When the next major response occurs in

New Zealand, these skills will become

even more critical to its effective

management.

Chris Morley, Incursion Investigator (Animals), ■

MAFBNZ, chris.morley@maf.govt.nz

Attending CIMs training at IDC Wallaceville are (from left): Lisa van Duin, Institute of Environmental Science and Research, and Wendy McDonald, IDC, with team members from the New Zealand Defence Force and Department of Corrections.

MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND 17

90UPDATES

IMPORT HEALTH STANDARD FOR SPECIFIED COOKED POULTRY MEAT PRODUCTS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION FROM AUSTRALIAMAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) has issued a new import health standard (IHS): Importing Specified Cooked Poultry Meat Products for Human Consumption from Australia. The standard is dated 26 January 2009, and can be viewed on the MAFBNZ website at: www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/animals/standards/meapouic.aus.htm

This IHS sets the requirements to import cooked poultry meat products from compartments free of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) in Australia. Recognition of a compartment’s freedom from the disease is based on MAFBNZ approval of a biosecurity plan submitted by the Australian Veterinary Authority that follows the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Code guidelines. Poultry meat may originate either from an export farm in Australia that belongs to a compartment free of IBDV, or from specified poultry farm(s) in New Zealand. Processing into final cooked poultry meat products will take place in Australia, under strict biosecurity measures defined in the biosecurity plan.

Any questions relating to this new import health standard can be directed to: Animal Imports, Biosecurity New Zealand, PO Box 2526, Wellington.Phone: 04 894 0459, Fax: 04 894 0662, Email: imports@maf.govt.nz

UPDATESIMPORT HEALTH STANDARD FOR IMPORTATION OF FERTILISERS AND GROWING MEDIA OF PLANT ORIGIN MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) has issued the new import health standard (IHS): Importation of Fertilisers and Growing Media of Plant Origin. The standard is dated 20 February 2009, and can be viewed on the MAFBNZ website at: www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/plants/standards/bnz-fertgro-imprt.htm

The purpose of this IHS is to serve as a framework for plant products used as fertilisers and growing media that do not currently belong in any other IHS. The majority of products covered by this IHS have been imported previously through permits and internally approved lists, and little change is being made to existing regulations.

Any questions relating to this new import health standard can be directed to: Plant Imports, Biosecurity New Zealand, PO Box 2526, Wellington.Phone: 04 894 0460, Fax: 04 894 0662, Email: plantimports@maf.govt.nz

Liz de Jong has joined the MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) Border Standards Directorate as a Business Support Adviser. Liz previously worked for the Ministry of Justice, where she provided financial support to an infrastructure work programme. Before that, Liz spent many years at the State Services Commission working in the Finance team in a number of roles.

Alan Macleod has joined the Border Standards Directorate as Animal Exports Team Manager in the Animal Imports and Exports Group. He previously worked for the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA). Alan was a veterinarian in private practice (small, large and wildlife) in South Africa for 26 years before joining MAF Quality Management (Meat) in 1996. He served as a Supervising Veterinarian (SV) in

Thames, followed by five years with MAF Quarantine Services as a Port Veterinarian at Auckland Airport. Alan returned to South Africa for five years and worked in laboratory animal research and bioethics, and on wildlife research projects. He also served on 32 animal research ethics committees and was a member of the South African Environmental Forensics Working Group. He was responsible for compiling the new South African standards for Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes and for auditing animal research laboratories and holding facilities throughout South Africa.

Erin Maher has joined the Border Standards Directorate as an Adviser in the Animal Imports Team. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in genetics and biochemistry at Massey University in Palmerston North last year, where she gained a variety of practical experience with genetically modified organisms and medical diagnostic techniques. Erin is particularly interested in the importation of biological products.

Katherine Garnett has joined the Post Border Directorate as a Team Support Officer for the Pests and Pathways Team. She is involved in statutory appointments and will also be the National Pest Plant Accord database co-ordinator. Before joining the Post Border Directorate, Katherine spent more than five years with the Investigation and Diagnostic Centre (IDC), Wallaceville, as an Immunology Laboratory Technician. She completed her Bachelor of Science in zoology at the

University of Canterbury in 2002 and in the same year, also gained her Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary) from the Wellington College of Education.

Karyn Froud has recently been appointed Incursion Investigation Group Manager for the Investigation and Diagnostic Centres. Karyn has worked for MAF for the past six years as Team Manager for the Plants and Environment Incursion Investigation Team. Prior to this she worked for nine years as a horticultural entomologist at HortResearch, where she specialised in researching plant virus vector

ecology, pest monitoring systems and biological control. Karyn has a Master of Science degree in entomology from the University of Auckland and is currently the vice-President of the New Zealand Plant Protection Society.

Mark Bullians has been appointed Team Manager of the Incursion Investigation Plants and Environment team, IDC. Mark’s prior experience includes six years as an Incursion Investigator (IDC); five years as an entomologist with MAF, AgriQuality Ltd and Landcare Ltd; and wide experience in operational and planning roles in many responses. Mark has a Master of Science degree in

entomology from the University of Auckland. He will be leading the team responsible for receiving and assessing notifications, and undertaking investigations of suspect exotic pests and diseases affecting plants and the environment.

Richard Spence joined MAF Biosecurity New Zealand in January as a Bacteriology Scientist in the Bacteriology and Aquatic Animal Diseases Team at the IDC, Wallaceville. Richard previously worked as a Clinical Scientist in the Clinical Microbiology Department of Leicester Royal Infirmary in the United Kingdom, where he was responsible for running the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory. He

undertook his PhD at the Centre for Biomolecular Sciences at the University of Nottingham, UK, where he worked on the development of novel molecular diagnostic tests for Staphylococcus aureus. Richard also spent three years working for the Health Protection Agency at Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, where he was involved in diagnostic clinical microbiology as well as various research projects. Richard’s main research interests are focused on the development of novel molecular diagnostic assays for bacterial pathogens as well as understanding the epidemiology of these pathogens.

PEOPLE IN BIOSECURITY

RJaARCInfo

undertook his PhD at the

L(MSJuinyeF

AaEFpfoin

Thames followed by five

EaBMgmisp

KaSthjoth(IS

KInDsInnw

ecology pest monitoring

MInIDInwexre

entomology from the Uni

18 MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND

90 DIRECTORY

Pest watch: 20/12/2008 – 20/02/2009Biosecurity is about managing risks – protecting the New Zealand environment and economy from exotic pests and diseases. MAF Biosecurity New Zealand devotes much of its time to ensuring that new organism records come to its attention, to follow up as appropriate. The tables here list new organisms that have become established, new hosts for existing pests and extensions to distribution of existing pests. The information was collated between 20 December 2008 and 20 February 2009. The plant information is held in the Plant Pest Information Network (PPIN) database. Wherever possible, common names have been included.

ANIMAL KINGDOM RECORDSValidated new to New Zealand reportsNo new to New Zealand records during this period.

New host reportsNo new host records during this period.

Extension to distribution reportsNo extension to distribution records during this period.

If you have any enquiries regarding this information please email ■ NZBiosecuritySurveillance@maf.govt.nz

PLANT KINGDOM RECORDSValidated new to New Zealand reportsOrganism Host Location Submitted by Comments

Antonina socialis Bambusa multiplex Auckland Scion (high risk site surveillance) Originally reported in 2008(cottony bamboo mealybug) (bamboo) as Antonina crawi. A. crawi is not known to occur in New Zealand

Dicyma ovalispora Cortaderia selloana Auckland General Surveillance(fungus: no common name) (Pampas grass)

Significant find reportsOrganism Host Location Submitted by Comments

No significant find records during this period.

New host reportsOrganism Host Location Submitted by Comments

Oemona hirta Casimiroa edulis Auckland General Surveillance(lemon tree borer) (white sapote)

Hemiberlesia lataniae Fuchsia procumbens Auckland General Surveillance(latania scale) (climbing fuchsia)

Ceroplastes sinensis Fuchsia procumbens Auckland General Surveillance(Chinese wax scale) (climbing fuchsia)

Saissetia oleae Fuchsia procumbens Auckland General Surveillance(black scale, olive scale) (climbing fuchsia)

Aenetus virescens Ligustrum sinense Bay of Plenty Scion (high risk site surveillance)(puriri moth) (Chinese privet)

Kalotermes brouni Buddleja davidii Auckland Scion (high risk site surveillance)(New Zealand drywood termite) (buddleia, summer lilac)

Didymus intutus Buddleja davidii Auckland Scion (high risk site surveillance)(beetle: no common name) (buddleia, summer lilac)

Botryosphaeria stevensii Acer platanoides Nelson Scion (high risk site surveillance)(black rot, diplodia canker) (Norway maple)

Alternaria alternata Pseudotsuga menziesii Taupo Scion (high risk site surveillance)(alternaria rot, sooty mould) (Douglas fir)

Spilotrogia pulchella Lagunaria patersonia Wellington Scion (high risk site surveillance)(beetle: no common name) (Norfolk Island hibiscus)

Mitophyllus arcuatus Prunus sp. Auckland Scion (high risk site surveillance)(beetle: no common name) (Prunus)

Lindingaspis rossi Plagianthus regius Wellington Scion (high risk site surveillance)(circular black scale, Ross’s black scale) (manatu, ribbonwood)

Luteovirus Barley yellow dwarf virus strain PAV Microlaena stipoides Coromandel University of Auckland(BYDV-PAV) (microlaena, weeping grass)

MAF BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND 19

90DIRECTORY

Organism Host Location Submitted by Comments

Pseudaulacaspis cordylinidis Cordyline terminalis Wellington Scion (high risk site surveillance)(scale: no common name) (Hawaiian ti)

Leucaspis cordylinidis Cordyline terminalis Wellington Scion (high risk site surveillance)(scale insect: no common name) (Hawaiian ti)

Nipaecoccus aurilanatus Araucaria angustifolia Auckland Scion (high risk site surveillance)(golden mealybug) (Brazilian pine)

Icerya purchasi Pittosporum tenuifolium Auckland Scion (high risk site surveillance)(cottony cushion scale) (kohuhu, pittosporum)

Bionectria ochroleuca Quercus robur Nelson Scion (high risk site surveillance) Found as Clonostachys rosea(fungus: no common name) (English oak, truffle oak)

Ochrosopsis subfasciatus Eucalyptus pauciflora Wairarapa Scion (high risk site surveillance)(chrysomelid beetle) (cabbage gum, eucalypt)

Paropsis charybdis Eucalyptus pauciflora Wairarapa Scion (high risk site surveillance)(eucalyptus tortoise beetle) (cabbage gum, eucalypt)

Phloeophagosoma dilutum Phormium tenax Wellington Scion (high risk site surveillance)(beetle: no common name) (New Zealand flax)

Ctenopseustis obliquana Paraserianthes lophantha Auckland Scion (high risk site surveillance)(brown headed leafroller) (brush wattle)

Ctenopseustis obliquana Syncarpia glomulifera Bay of Plenty Scion (high risk site surveillance)(brown headed leafroller) (lustre wood, turpentine tree)

Hemiberlesia rapax Hebe topiaria (hebe) Wellington Scion (high risk site surveillance)(greedy scale)

Ceroplastes sinensis Punica granatum Auckland Scion (high risk site surveillance)(Chinese wax scale) (pomegranate)

Saissetia coffeae Schefflera actinophylla Auckland Scion (high risk site surveillance)(hemispherical scale) (Queensland umbrella tree)

Pseudococcus longispinus Schefflera actinophylla Auckland Scion (high risk site surveillance)(longtailed mealybug) (Queensland umbrella tree)

Coccus hesperidum Schefflera actinophylla Auckland Scion (high risk site surveillance)(brown soft scale) (Queensland umbrella tree)

Ochrosopsis subfasciatus Syzygium smithii Wellington Scion (high risk site surveillance)(chrysomelid beetle) (Lilly pilly, monkey apple)

Prionoplus reticularis Pinus nigra Wellington Scion (high risk site surveillance)(huhu beetle) (black pine)

Oemona hirta Euonymus japonicus Wellington Scion (high risk site surveillance)(lemon tree borer) (evergreen euonymus, Japanese spindle tree)

Mitophyllus arcuatus Stranvaesia davidiana Auckland Scion (high risk site surveillance)(beetle: no common name) (syn: Photinia davidiana)

Lepteutypa cupressi Chamaecyparis nootkatensis Marlborough Scion (ad hoc collection) Originally reported in 2008(fungus: no common name) (Nootka cypress) as Seiridium cupressi

New distribution reportsOrganism Host Location Submitted by Comments

Stegommata sulfuratella Banksia integrifolia Wairarapa Scion (high risk site surveillance)(banksia leaf miner) (coastal banksia)

Blastobasis tarda sp. nr. Malus sylvestris var. domestica Hawkes Bay Export Pre-Clearance(moth: no common name) (apple)

Mycosphaerella handelii Rhododendron sp. Westland Scion (high risk site surveillance) Found as Pseudocercospora(fungus: no common name) (rhododendron) handelii

If you have any enquiries regarding this information please email NZBiosecuritySurveillance@maf.govt.nz ■

Exotic disease and pest emergency hotline: 0800 80 99 66

Animal welfare complaint hotline: 0800 32 70 27

www.biosecurity.govt.nz