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.