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.

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.

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.

Another Brown Marmorated Stink bug (BMSB) season is done and dusted, and the number of live bugs has been down on previous years. There were 38 live detections between September 2024 and April 2025, compared with 111 in the 2023/24 season. The cargo pathway again saw high numbers of dead BMSB (642), highlighting the importance of offshore treatment and cleaning requirements for high-risk goods such as vehicles, parts, and machinery. Speaking of which, Biosecurity New Zealand is reviewing the vehicles, machinery and parts import health standard, which sets out the rules for bringing in a cargo type that is a favourite hiding place for BMSB. Changes being considered include updating the list of countries required to treat goods (likely adding Uzbekistan, where the pest is now established); strengthening biosecurity requirements for used boats imported as cargo; aligning import requirements for used parts and whole machinery (used parts from outdoor machinery, along with targeted indoor machinery, would require a cleaning certificate year-round, but only need to be treated during the BMSB risk season); and standardising import requirements for imported used parts across different sea cargo types so they are simpler and reduce unnecessary use of fumigants. The proposed changes will be published in full as part of consultation in August which KVH will be involved in. A significant development this season was the detection of BMSB in Argentina for the first time. Authorities reported the discovery of seven adult bugs in Buenos Aires in December. We import very little from Argentina and, to date, there has been no evidence of BMSB in imported cargo from that country. The UK is another “watchlist” country following recent detections. There is no imminent risk to New Zealand, as the known population is currently low and localised.

The KVH AGM takes place at 9am, Thursday 21 August, at Baypark. Presenting after voting formalities will be Mike Inglis, Northern Commissioner at the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). Read more here. A new Incorporated Societies Act was passed in 2022 which brings in new rules and requirements for all societies incorporated in New Zealand, including KVH. The new Act is far more prescriptive than the 1908 Act and includes several new mandatory requirements which must be in place before April 2026. Accordingly, KVH has redrafted our Rules into a Constitution to meet the new Act requirements and is seeking your feedback on these ahead of our AGM, when we will seek approval from growers for proposed changes. Read more, including the changes made to draft the new Constitution here.

We look forward to seeing you at Mystery Creek next week. We’ll be in the Zespri stand (at site F49 as per previous years), taking part in midday presentations each day. Gates are open - and we’re on-site - daily from Wednesday to Friday, 8.00am to 5.00pm. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Fieldays website.