In light of the current fruit fly response, KVH was part of a Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital (TMBC) workshop last week that looked at how prepared we are in Tauranga for a biosecurity incursion.

Around 40 people from a wide range of industry, community, biosecurity and education groups attended as well as central and local government, and iwi partners.

The workshop focused on how the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) responds to biosecurity incursions, the roles and responsibilities as set out in the incident mangement framework they use, presentations on the reality and practicalities of a biosecurity response (the fruit fly and Rena responses were used as examples), and the role of TMBC in supporting a response.

Whilst TMBC is not a response entity, the network was created a year ago to ensure plans and relationships are developed and prepared so that should a major incursion occur in the region, resources can be immediately activated to support response activities and help get information out.

From here, TMBC will be looking at further opportunities for response training so that the regions large pool of expertise can be used if called upon.

Read more about TMBC here.