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On-orchard biosecurity plans

On-orchard biosecurity plans

You need to have an on-orchard biosecurity plan that details how you manage risk on your property. Complete one on paper, or online, using our range of resources. 

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On-orchard biosecurity plans

Implementing on-orchard biosecurity is the responsibility of every person working on or visiting an orchard.

With several high-profile pest and disease introductions into New Zealand, including Psa, kiwifruit growers and orchard workers need to be biosecurity aware to protect themselves and surrounding orchards.

Kiwifruit growers can strengthen their biosecurity plans by using the KVH-produced poster and helpful template booklet.

The 5-step booklet is a set of measures designed to protect a property from the entry and spread of pests and diseases and have been developed to provide guidance, help identify risks, and how to address them.



What is a biosecurity plan?

It's a document that outlines how you manage your orchard and how you will respond to a pest or disease outbreak. It describes your processes on-orchard and how you are addressing biosecurity risks. It can be as short, or long, as you need.

The 5-step booklet is designed to be used as a template, with tips and suggestions for customising a biosecurity plan that works for your operation and that can be built on over time. Make sure that as you personalise your own plan, you involve all orchard staff and contractors so that everyone becomes engaged with the common goal of keeping your orchard and fruit safe.

Having a biosecurity plan in a biosecurity response or an emergency is critical. Early detection and reporting give us the opportunity to suppress any kind of serious disease.

Why have a biosecurity plan?

As a grower or person in charge of an orchard, you need to have a plan that covers the steps you take when moving machinery, tools and plant material on and off your property, how you trace and record all these things, how you manage the risks that might already be present, and the steps you should take if you see anything unusual.

By having a plan written down you can get everybody who's involved in your business on the same page. Investing a little time in establishing good biosecurity practices on your orchard promises a hundredfold reward, not only through the smooth operation of day-to-day business but the avoidance of financial problems, movement restrictions, and possible market access issues in the future from unchecked disease or pest populations.

How do I complete a biosecurity plan?

KVH has designed a biosecurity plan template that you can complete either on paper or online, depending on your preference. Both versions require:

  • the name of the person completing the plan;
  • the KPIN or KPINs the plan is being completed for;
  • a dated declaration from the person completing the plan that the information provided is true and correct in regard to actions taken to manage biosecurity risk.

To help you personalise your plan we have a sample available here that offers ideas and guidance.

You need to keep your plan on file so that you can show it to auditors and provide it to KVH if requested in a biosecurity response. If you choose to complete your plan online a PDF copy will be available for your electronic files.

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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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