Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has announced changes to New Zealand’s biosecurity laws that strengthen protections against invasive pests and diseases while protecting and promoting economic growth.

As kiwifruit growers are well aware, any incursion can have a major impact – modelling shows a fruit fly incursion in Te Puke could cost the industry up to $700 million in lost production, market access, and eradication efforts; and economic analysis from NZIER shows a foot and mouth incursion would cost about $14.3 billion a year.

KVH is pleased with the changes announced, which will increase defences from pest and disease and deliver practical improvements. KVH is also pleased to see that some of the changes that were initially proposed in the consultation process are not proceeding and there are no substantive changes to how the Government Industry Agreement for Biosecurity Readiness and Response (GIA) operates, which we support.

The Minister’s announcement shows things are progressing in the right direction. We’ve been involved extensively during consultation (see our Bulletin article and full submission here) and look forward to seeing a draft bill that incorporates the changes going through Parliament from late 2026.

Detailed changes, approved by Cabinet, can be viewed alongside the Minister’s announcement here. Changes of particular interest to growers include:

• New penalties designed to deter behaviour that puts New Zealand at risk, including fines for breaches of controlled area notices, including the power of arrest for obstructing the execution of a search warrant, and fines of up to $500,000 for serious offences.

• Making New Zealand’s import rules more efficient by making the development of import health standards more flexible by allowing risk assessments to be tailored to the scenario. This will enable higher volumes of trade and give exporters greater access to new materials to develop innovative products without lowering biosecurity standards.

• Improved management of established pests and diseases, including faster approval of pest management plans and faster processes to get responses underway in emergencies.

• Retaining compensation for direct and consequential losses in the event of an incursion, only when they are incurred within 24 months of an event, reflecting the need to strike a balance between fairness and prudent management of taxpayer money.

• Enabling minimum compensation entitlements to be varied by regulations or the Government Industry Agreement process.

• Introducing a two-tiered infringement approach for passengers who fail to declare risk goods at the border. The fine will be $800 for those who do not declare high-risk goods such as fresh fruit and meat. The existing $400 fine will remain for other goods.