No longer a rural-urban biosecurity divide

KVH was pleased to see that a new survey has found Kiwis – both rural and urban – hold similar and positive views on biosecurity, with most people agreeing that unwanted pests and diseases are a threat.

The New Zealanders’ views of the primary sector survey, released by the Minister for Biosecurity last week, measures change against a 2008 benchmark survey and sought participants views on key issues facing the primary sector including biosecurity, animal welfare, and climate change.

Just over 1,200 people and nine focus groups contributed to the survey which can be read in full here.

When it comes to biosecurity, the findings were:

• Most respondents were concerned about the threat of pests and diseases to New Zealand.

• Almost all (87%) urban and (88%) rural respondents agreed that, ‘Pests and diseases are a threat to New Zealand’.

• Both urban and rural respondents also placed a high level of responsibility on all parts of society for helping to protect New Zealand from the entry or spread of pests and diseases.

• There was strong support in focus groups for taking measures to control pests and diseases.

• Participants suggested talking more about biosecurity in schools and making the issue more real for people by focusing on the impacts an incursion would have on local businesses, families and jobs. These are two things KVH is also concentrating on with initiatives like Biosecurity Week in Tauranga and this summer’s Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) awareness campaign, and the new House of Science classroom biosecurity kits.