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Biosecurity overview

Biosecurity overview

This section explains and details the preparedness activities of KVH and the kiwifruit industry to ensure we are ready to manage any pest or disease threat that may reach New Zealand's borders, and New Zealand's kiwifruit orchards.

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What are our threat levels?

The KVH Dashboard is produced to provide the industry with a view of current biosecurity threat levels and our ability to respond to these threats should they arrive. The Dashboard includes a summary of information relevant to the kiwifruit industry from latest risk reporting by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI).

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What are our threat levels?

COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS

Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital (TMBC) is a partnership that brings together mātauranga Māori, industry, science, education and government to protect the region from pests and diseases.

It's aim is to make our biosecurity system more resilient and future-focused by building a team of regional biosecurity champions through awareness, connection and capability building.

KVH is an active, funding partner of the coalition.

The Port of Tauranga Biosecurity Excellence programme has the goal of having no incursions through the Port. This is achieved by working collaboratively and being committed to biosecurity excellence, through effective biosecurity awareness and the use of the very best tools and technologies, backed by science..

The Biosecurity Business Pledge is a partnership that helps all New Zealand businesses take a proactive approach to their biosecurity practices. It was established in recognition of the significant costs associated with unwanted pests and diseases, that biosecurity prevention will always be better than a cure, and that we all benefit from working together to foster better outcomes.

KVH is a founding partner of the Pledge.

LEVY

A levy for biosecurity readiness and response activities came into effect on 6 March 2015. Every year at the KVH AGM, grower members agree to the levy. For the 2025/26 year the rate is 0.8 cents per tray for all varieties. A copy of the levy is available here.

SEEN SOMETHING UNUSUAL?

KVH investigates reports of unusual symptoms to identify and manage any biosecurity risks.

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LATEST NEWS

05 Jun 2025

Strengthening connections between industry and Biosecurity New Zealand

Recently KVH travelled to Pukekohe and linked with the Punchbowl team to host a workshop for members of Biosecurity New Zealand (BNZ), to connect, network, and share an understanding of the industry’s infrastructure and past and potential forward impacts of biosecurity responses. The visiting group included principal scientists from New Zealand’s Plant Health and Environmental Laboratory (PHEL) and Incursion Investigation Plant Health teams; BNZ response managers, including members involved in the fruit fly responses earlier this this year and who also played a role through the Psa response; and relationship managers who hold a vital role in fostering ongoing connectivity between BNZ and industry in the readiness and response space. Rob Craig shared the history of Punchbowl and provided an insightful history of kiwifruit industry impacts related to economic and market challenges, and business impacts following the Psa incursion. He noted the heightened industry awareness of the very real implications of a fruit fly incursion, especially for businesses close to ports and airports. Rob also emphasised the willingness to support the industry KiwiNet network which coordinates the deployment of kiwifruit industry personnel into biosecurity responses. KVH highlighted the value, expansion, regionality and seasonality of the kiwifruit industry and reflected on industry’s keen awareness of the potential impacts of our most unwanted pest threats. The unusual symptoms surveillance programme was described and clearly showed the connectivity and support of the PHEL team in this space. Lalith Kumarasinghe, manager of the PHEL lab described the wide-ranging analytical roles of his team which provide ongoing support to New Zealand’s biosecurity processes. The visit wrapped up with a guided tour of the Punchbowl pack-house and cool stores, and an opportunity to get out in the sunshine and under a kiwifruit canopy to hear more about the growing side of our industry. This opportunity for BNZ/ PHEL and the kiwifruit industry/ KVH to connect was considered immensely valuable by all parties. KVH would like to sincerely thank the visitors for taking time away from their busy schedules, and the Punchbowl team for warmly opening their doors to share the industry story.

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05 Jun 2025

Biosecurity top of agribusiness priority list again

In the 2025 Agribusiness Leaders Priority Survey, biosecurity was once again ranked top (for the 16th year in a row) by leaders from across the food and fibre sector, who provided insights into the importance of peacetime planning, and putting the time and effort into regularly using and testing systems before a biosecurity crisis hits so that we can optimise response outcomes. This is a key priority for KVH, and we’ve got another response exercise coming up later in the year that we’ll share in more detail in upcoming Bulletins. The importance of good communication about biosecurity risks and response procedures was another noted insight and point made by leaders. Engagement with growers and those managing orchards is something the KVH team in sharply focused on – we do a huge amount of work in this space already and we’re ramping it up. We’ll be working with growers, post-harvest and orchard management teams (via Zespri and GAP audits, or sometimes directly) to provide everything needed for those managing orchards to meet regulatory requirements under the National Kiwifruit Pathway Management Plan, including having an on-orchard biosecurity plan. As the KPMG report states, “most people (in the sector and beyond) don’t have deep knowledge of biosecurity risks and response procedures” – this makes it critical that as a dedicated biosecurity organisation we provide helpful, concise, timely communication and tools, so people are clear on what they need to do and why. Biosecurity plans can be created online via the KVH website here. View the biosecurity page from the report here, or see the full report on the KPMG website here.

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05 Jun 2025

“It only takes one” goes wider

New Zealand’s border biosecurity campaign is reaching further afield, with targeted ads now running in the UK and soon in the US. The campaign reminds travellers that it only takes one risk item to do serious harm to New Zealand. It aims to get travellers thinking about biosecurity before they even pack – especially high-risk items for our industry like soiled boots, and food. In the UK, digital ads are now playing in the major airports of London, Manchester, and Birmingham, as well as online for people searching for travel to New Zealand. Advertising in the US will begin shortly and the campaign will then expand to China and India. Know someone visiting from overseas or visiting our orchards? KVH also has a specially designed poster for best biosecurity practice and what to expect at border control.

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USE THE WEATHER & DISEASE PORTAL

The KVH portal is now the Zespri Weather & Disease Portal. Access all the weather tools you're familiar with.

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