This week Tauranga proudly hosted the New Zealand Biosecurity Institute’s annual national education and training seminar (NETS2019), a three-day forum of discussion and debate on how to collectively minimise the risk of biosecurity threats to New Zealand.

The theme “All Hands on Deck” recognised the huge value of joint initiatives such as Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital and set the challenge for the development of more joint initiatives throughout the country.

Over 250 delegates attended, with speakers ranging from international and national experts to people working at the coalface. Presentations ranged from pest plants to aquatics, invertebrates and diseases, to technology and collaboration.

At the event, KVH showcased KiwiNet, the kiwifruit industry initiative championing biosecurity readiness and highlighted how surveillance and response capacity has been built via an industry-wide approach. For example, KiwiNet supplied 41 sets of feet on the ground to the 2019 Auckland fruit fly response between mid-February and the end of June.

KVH also hosted a “vine to vessel” field-trip showing best-practice biosecurity incorporated into everyday tours to Kiwifruit Country, sustainability and proactive biosecurity practice at Trevelyan’s pack-house, successful control of wild kiwifruit in the steep Te Puke gullies and finally an up close view of New Zealand’s largest port to see container inspections and detector dogs in action.