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Coming soon to your screens is a brand-new kiwifruit industry biosecurity champions video, about the importance of good biosecurity as part of good business practice. The video features DMS staff, namely Technical & Innovation Manager Cam Clayton, and the work they day every day to ensure we are protected from the threat of harmful pests and diseases reaching orchards and spreading unknowingly. Watch this space as the final product won’t be far away. You can watch the video now on the KVH YouTube channel.

In the last issue of the Bulletin, we started our meet the team series, sharing more about the roles we have, and how each of us interact with you, our readers and growers, in our day-to-day activities. This week, we introduce Anna Li. I’m Anna and I joined KVH in August 2024 as the Systems Coordinator. My role is to support KVH’s IT infrastructure and security and provide data and mapping support to the team. I also create practical new tools and systems for KVH that we can use for online services to growers, particularly around traceability. My background spans web development, software programming, and mapping. I have a horticulture certificate too, which gives me deep insights into pest and disease control within orchard management. Before joining KVH, I was a professional landscape architect – something I’m still really interested in. I worked on residential projects and large public spaces, and gained valuable experience in mapping, which I use to this day. I’m excited to be part of KVH and look forward to working with you all to support our growers.

The 2024/25 cruise season in New Zealand is officially underway, with 45 cruise ships set to make a total of 957 stops around the country. Four cruise lines that haven’t been here since pre-Covid times are also coming back. We often get questions from growers about Biosecurity New Zealand’s Recognised Cruise Line Programme (RCLP), which checks how cruise lines handle risks. Here’s a rundown of what’s covered in the programme: Refuse management – such as using steam to sterilise bottles and containers that have been used for food.Pest and provision management – ensuring things like live plants are treated, pest traps are checked, and there’s a solid plan for managing pests in provisions.Passenger management – for example, limiting the serving of whole fruit and honey, and making sure passengers get biosecurity information at least two days before arriving.Biosecurity awareness – this includes making sure crew members are well trained. Starting this season, operators with a good track record of compliance may be able to keep their approval status for up to three years for both topside and underwater biosecurity. Evaluations will still happen every year, and operators will need to meet strict standards to maintain their approval. Also, Biosecurity New Zealand is changing how they do audits - officers will now carry out checks throughout the entire cruise season, not just at the first port of arrival. In the Bay of Plenty, we also have the Port of Tauranga Biosecurity Excellence programme, which involves the Port, KVH, Biosecurity New Zealand, and other local industry and council working together to raise awareness with frontline staff and ensure there are no biosecurity incursions through the Port.

In the last Bulletin we mentioned the consultation underway on several proposed amendments to the Biosecurity Act 1993. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is leading this process and KVH is currently completing a comprehensive submission on behalf of the kiwifruit industry that will address most of the proposed changes, as each has some bearing on how the biosecurity system will operate in the future. Some of the proposals are significant to our sector, particularly those in the sections about funding and compensation, readiness and response, and long-term management. Our submission will be available from our website early next week. We welcome the opportunity for further discussion so please do keep a look out and get in touch at info@kvh.org.nz at any stage if you have questions. The consultation will be part of our presentation at the upcoming Zespri Grower Roadshows too.

Don’t forget to register for the upcoming Zespri Grower Roadshows (the first ones in Oropi and the Waikato get underway today). We look forward to seeing you there. Alongside presentations from Zespri and NZKGI, we’ll be speaking at each location, providing an update on our activities, especially our involvement in the Biosecurity Act review currently underway and our expanded role in Emergency Response Management (ERM) for the industry. The roadshows run through to Tuesday 3 December. Register here.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has completed a review of the Biosecurity Act 1993 and is currently consulting on several proposed amendments. Since 2018, KVH has been actively involved in the review process, providing input on behalf of the kiwifruit industry, and it is pleasing to see that this input has been reflected in some of the proposed changes. What are the proposed changes? There are more than 70 proposed changes to the Act which vary in significance to our industry. MPI has grouped these proposals into six topics and provided discussion documents and more detailed regulatory impact assessments for each: System wide issues Funding and compensationBorder and importsReadiness and responseLong-term managementLegislative interfaces These documents can be found on the MPI website here. KVH is drafting a comprehensive submission that will address most of the proposed changes, as each has some bearing on how the biosecurity system will operate in the future, although some of the proposals are much more significant to our sector, particularly those in the sections about funding and compensation, readiness and response, and long-term management. KVH has attended a number of workshops with other members of the primary sector to ensure we understand the major issues and help inform our position on these. Over the next month we will be testing and socialising our position with the kiwifruit industry, including industry forums such as the NZKGI Forum, Industry Advisory Council, and the Technical Forum. We welcome the opportunity for further discussion with growers on these matters and will include this as part of our presentation at the upcoming Zespri Grower Roadshows.