MAF Biosecurity New Zealand is the lead government agency in preventing unwanted organisms from reaching New Zealand. It also controls, manages, or eradicates these organisms if they do arrive.

Biosecurity is important to protect New Zealand’s:

• health
• natural environment
• native flora and fauna
• biodiversity
• resources that are important to Maori
• economic interests
• social and cultural values.

Biosecurity NZ is a division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF).

Recent projects
Pre-border and border activities – The MAF Quarantine Service is New Zealand's first line of defense against invasion by pests and diseases which could devastate our agricultural, horticultural and forestry sectors.

Didymo

Didymo, or ‘rock snot’, is an unwanted organism that has recently invaded some of New Zealand’s waterways. It attaches itself to stream beds and forms a thick brown mat on rocks, plants, and other material in the water. Biosecurity NZ is monitoring and controlling didymo, raising public awareness about the organism, and encouraging people to report sightings of any unusual algae.

Varroa mite

The varroa mite is an unwanted organism that kills bees. It was first detected in 2000 in Auckland, when it had already spread too widely to be completely eradicated. In this case, Biosecurity NZ is working with beekeepers to slow the spread of the varroa mite around New Zealand.

Marine biosecurity focuses on:

• preventing exotic organisms arriving
• looking out for such organisms and responding to finds quickly
• eradicating or managing marine pest species, should they be detected here.

Regional Pest Management Strategies (RPMSs) have been adopted by 16 Regional Authorities throughout New Zealand. These provide a strategic and legal framework for efficient and effective management of pest plants and animals within the region.

The Animal Welfare Group promotes policies appropriate to society's expectations for the humane treatment of animals, developing codes of welfare, codes of minimum recommendation, and minimum standards.