Seen something unusual? MAKE A REPORT
Seen something unusual? MAKE A REPORT
20/12/2024
Merry Christmas from the KVH team. We wish you a safe and relaxing holiday period with your loved ones. The KVH office will be closed from Monday 23 December 2024 and will reopen at 8.30am on Monday 6 January 2025. If any urgent issues arise during this period, please feel free to get in touch by email or report unusual pest or disease symptoms on kiwifruit or vines online here. We will be regularly monitoring these channels and will respond as soon as possible. For urgent reporting of any unusual pests or diseases, the Biosecurity New Zealand hotline (0800 80 99 66) operates 24/7 over the holidays as per usual.
Read more13/12/2024
KVH’s submission on proposed amendments to the Biosecurity Act (as completed and submitted on Friday 13 December) can be read here. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is leading the review consultation process and our comprehensive submission on behalf of the kiwifruit industry addresses most of the proposed changes, as these have a bearing on how the biosecurity system will operate in the future. Significant areas for our sector that we have commented on relate to funding and compensation, readiness and response, and long-term management. MPI will now analyse submissions, publish a summary, and make recommendations to the Minister for Biosecurity. It is anticipated Cabinet will consider final policy proposals in 2025. Thank you to those who have discussed the submission with us. We welcome any further questions or feedback about the process at info@kvh.org.nz. Visit the MPI Biosecurity Act review webpage for detailed proposed amendments information Read more about how we developed our submission
Read more02/12/2024
In the last Bulletin we mentioned the consultation underway on several proposed amendments to the Biosecurity Act 1993. Our draft submission is now available to view here. We welcome the opportunity for further discussion so please do get in touch at info@kvh.org.nz by 13 December when the submission is due if you have questions. The consultation and our submission have been part of our presentation at the recent Grower Roadshows too, and we thank those of you who have already spoken with us about it. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is leading this process and our comprehensive submission on behalf of the kiwifruit industry will address most of the proposed changes, as these have a bearing on how the biosecurity system will operate in the future. Some of the proposals are significant to our sector, particularly those in the sections about funding and compensation, readiness and response, and long-term management.
Read more02/12/2024
The holidays are almost here and with them come extra biosecurity risks posed by unpacking Christmas goodies and luggage. Remember, and be sure to remind family and friends, to be on the lookout for unwanted guests of the “bug” kind and carefully unpack and check any packages or bags from overseas for hitchhiking pests. Open parcels in a closed room and if you find anything unusual, catch it, photograph it, and report it. Looking across previous years it is estimated that around 3,400 items of undeclared fresh produce will be seized from passengers over the Christmas period alone! Kiwifruit growers and other passengers associated with primary sectors travelling over the Christmas and New Year period may find they experience more interventions when returning to New Zealand. This is because they potentially pose a greater biosecurity risk based on the likelihood they may have visited offshore orchards and farms during their travels. KVH has produced a useful one-page poster outlining everything growers can do to help reduce biosecurity risk and what you can expect through border control when returning home.
Read more02/12/2024
With the upcoming Christmas holiday period, the last date for Hill Labs Psa testing will be Tuesday 24 December 2024. The last date for Unusual Symptom sample processing at Plant Diagnostics will be Friday 20 December (for already received samples). Services will resume at both labs from Monday 6 January 2025. Please contact KVH at info@kvh.org.nz if urgent testing is potentially required during the Christmas closure.
Read more04/12/2024
Earlier this week KiwiNet members from across post-harvest organisations, and representatives from Farmlands, Horticentre and Fruitfed, met with KVH for an industry biosecurity and readiness update. This included a review of the KiwiNet purpose and ongoing value to the industry, 10 years on from the initial launch in 2014. As a theme setter Lisa Gibbison presented the findings from her recently completed Kellogg project “Who do growers trust in a time of crisis?”. A key message was the value of developing and maintaining networks across time as these build the trust that knits people together in times of crisis. KVH and Zespri were seen as trusted industry leaders. Matt Dyck, KVH Biosecurity Manager outlined the interaction between the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and support organisations in the event of a biosecurity response, and the commonalities between readiness training for biosecurity and the newer industry Emergency Response Management (ERM) framework in which KVH also has a key role. Updates on our industry surveillance projects, a whirlwind global overview of biosecurity challenges, and a short update on unusual symptoms highlighted both the emerging threats and the valuable research projects and collaborations that are ongoing in the biosecurity space. More information about KiwiNet can be found here. A copy of Lisa’s Kellogg research project and presentations from the workshop will be posted on the KVH website shortly.
Read more02/12/2024
Next in our series of team member introductions, is Senior Biosecurity Advisor, Erin Lane. We started this series to share more about the roles we have, and how each of us interact with you, our readers and growers, in our day-to-day activities. I joined KVH in February 2019, coming from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) where I worked as a Quarantine Officer in Auckland and later in Wellington on regulation and developing response and readiness plans. My primary role here at KVH is to work with both growers and the wider kiwifruit industry to raise awareness about biosecurity threats and to support the industry in managing any risks that do arise. One of the biggest threats to kiwifruit – and many other fruit and vegetable industries in New Zealand - is the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB). An interesting fact about me and my travels is that I’ve worked closely with the Japanese vehicle and machinery industry to ensure their supply chains are biosecurity robust and that vehicles and machines arriving in New Zealand are free of these bugs. This involved spending six weeks working out of the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo, traveling across Japan to meet with manufacturers, inspect factories, storage facilities, and ports to assess risks. I’m probably most well-known for my role in reviewing the most unwanted threat list for the kiwifruit industry, drawing on my knowledge and experience of import pathways and treatments. The most unwanted list is what we use to produce a lot of the resources we create for the industry. I really enjoy being part of the kiwifruit industry and raising my young family here in the Bay of Plenty. I look forward to continuing KVH’s important work with you all.
Read more27/11/2024
Merry Christmas from the KVH team. We wish you a safe and relaxing holiday period with your loved ones. The KVH office will be closed from Monday 23 December 2024 and will reopen at 8.30am on Monday 6 January 2025. If any urgent issues arise during this period, please feel free to get in touch by email or report unusual pest or disease symptoms online here. For urgent reporting of unusual pests and diseases, the Biosecurity New Zealand hotline (0800 80 99 66) operates 24/7 as per usual.
Read more18/11/2024
In the last Bulletin we mentioned the consultation underway on several proposed amendments to the Biosecurity Act 1993. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is leading this process and KVH is currently completing a comprehensive submission on behalf of the kiwifruit industry that will address most of the proposed changes, as these have a bearing on how the biosecurity system will operate in the future. Some of the proposals are significant to our sector, particularly those in the sections about funding and compensation, readiness and response, and long-term management. Our draft submission is now available to view here. We welcome the opportunity for further discussion so please do get in touch at info@kvh.org.nz at any stage if you have questions. The consultation will be part of our presentation at the upcoming Zespri Grower Roadshows too.
Read more18/11/2024
Coming soon to your screens is a brand-new kiwifruit industry biosecurity champions video, about the importance of good biosecurity as part of good business practice. The video features DMS staff, namely Technical & Innovation Manager Cam Clayton, and the work they day every day to ensure we are protected from the threat of harmful pests and diseases reaching orchards and spreading unknowingly. Watch this space as the final product won’t be far away. You can watch the video now on the KVH YouTube channel.
Read more15/11/2024
In the last issue of the Bulletin, we started our meet the team series, sharing more about the roles we have, and how each of us interact with you, our readers and growers, in our day-to-day activities. This week, we introduce Anna Li. I’m Anna and I joined KVH in August 2024 as the Systems Coordinator. My role is to support KVH’s IT infrastructure and security and provide data and mapping support to the team. I also create practical new tools and systems for KVH that we can use for online services to growers, particularly around traceability. My background spans web development, software programming, and mapping. I have a horticulture certificate too, which gives me deep insights into pest and disease control within orchard management. Before joining KVH, I was a professional landscape architect – something I’m still really interested in. I worked on residential projects and large public spaces, and gained valuable experience in mapping, which I use to this day. I’m excited to be part of KVH and look forward to working with you all to support our growers.
Read more19/11/2024
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.
Read moreThe Cook Strait represents a defendable barrier to the spread of kiwifruit industry pests and pathogens.
This barrier represents a strategic opportunity for the industry to protect growers and ensure areas of clean plant material and fruit supply are maintained in the event of any outbreak affecting either island.
Under the National Kiwifruit Pathway Management Plan (Pathway Plan), there is a specific rule to enable a higher level of risk management for movements between the North and South Islands (and vice versa) relative to movements within the North Island or within the South Island. These risk management practices can be tailored to reflect the level of risk.
Currently, Psa is the specified high-risk organism for the Pathway Plan, and as the South Island remains free of Psa there are specific measures in place to manage this risk.
The rule applies to the movement of all risk items where the destination is an orchard, nursery, or for the movement of items associated with kiwifruit pollination.
Vehicle machinery and equipment movements:
For the movement of vehicles and machinery, KVH must be notified in writing and equipment sanitised for the movement between islands. Inspections will be done by KVH staff in the Bay of Plenty and by KVH Regional Coordinators in other regions. KVH will provide written permission for the movement once inspection has been undertaken to provide suppliers, recipients, and carriers of goods confidence that requirements of the Pathway Plan are being met.
Plant material movements:
For plant material movements, which present the highest risk, the plant material must be free of high-risk organisms or not likely to result in a significant impact to the kiwifruit industry.
For movements from the South Island to the North Island:
KPCS certification for nursery plants, budwood, or pollen fulfil the requirements for movements from the South Island to the North Island and no further quarantine or testing is required.
For movements from the North Island to the South Island:
The presence of Psa in the North Island and absence from the South Island means that movements from Psa positive to non-detected orchards is prohibited. However, KVH has developed a tissue culture pathway to enable the safe movement of clean material into Psa Exclusion and Containment Regions under the NPMP. This will be used to meet the requirements of this rule with approval from a KVH Authorised Person. This tissue culture pathway is a two-year process based on risk management measures from the Actinidia Import Health Standard and involves three stages - laboratory-based tissue culture; greenhouse; and an outdoor containment facility. KVH undertakes audits at each stage of the process. The tissue culture standard is available on the KVH website here.
Currently, while the South Island retains area freedom from Psa, meeting the requirements of this tissue culture standard is the only pathway available for the movement of kiwifruit plant material from the North Island to the South Island. Movement of kiwifruit plants, budwood or pollen by other means is prohibited under the Pathway Plan.
See below a list of movements across the Cook Strait between the North and South Islands, where the final destination is a kiwifruit nursery or orchard (excluding routine movements of KPCS certified plant material suppliers). All movements listed have been risk assessed by KVH and have to meet strict requirements prior to approval being granted.
2023/24 Safe movement of risk items between North and South Islands - updated November 2024 |
||||||
| KVH Permit ID | Purpose of movement | Risk item | Interisland movement | Movement time period | Final destination nursery/orchard | |
| P-01997 | Seed for germinating | Seed | South Island to North Island | 01/04/2023 | 01/04/2024 | Yes |
| P-02024 | Leaf sampling | Vehicle | North Island to South Island & South Island to North Island | 31/07/2023 | 31/07/2024 | Yes |
| P-02119 | Budwood for grafting | Budwood | South Island to North Island | 27/05/2024 | 31/05/2024 | Yes |
| P-02121 | Budwood for grafting | Budwood | South Island to North Island | 30/05/2024 | 30/05/2024 | Yes |
| P-02122 | Budwood for grafting | Budwood | South Island to North Island | 28/05/2024 | 06/06/2024 | Yes |
| P-02125 | Budwood for grafting | Budwood | South Island to North Island | 01/01/2024 | 31/12/2024 | Yes |
| P-02126 | Budwood harvest | Equipment | North Island to South Island | 14/05/2024 | 30/06/2024 | Yes |
| P-02153 | Pollination | Pollen | South Island to North Island | 05/09/2024 | 01/10/2024 | Yes |
| P-02156 | Plant establishment | Plants | North Island to South Island | 25/09/2024 | 25/09/2024 | Yes |
| P-02172 | Pollination | Equipment | North Island to South Island | 24/10/2024 | 1/11/2024 | Yes |
| P-02175 | Pollination | Equipment | North Island to South Island | 30/10/2024 | 4/11/2024 | Yes |
| KVH Requirements | ||||||
| Notification to KVH is required at least 7 days before any proposed movement and requires KVH approval. All kiwifruit plant material is to be securely packaged and transported using a covered vehicle. All kiwifruit plant material entering a facility for testing and research purposes is to be disposed of first via autoclave. Where the final destination is an orchard the kiwifruit plant material is to be quarantined in an approved facility for the period of time required to establish the movement does not significantly increase risk to the kiwifruit industry. All vehicles, machinery, and equipment is to be free of visible soil and plant material, sanitised and stored and transported in a manner to avoid contamination. |
||||||
KVH investigates reports of unusual symptoms to identify and manage any biosecurity risks.
20 Dec 2024
Merry Christmas from the KVH team. We wish you a safe and relaxing holiday period with your loved ones. The KVH office will be closed from Monday 23 December 2024 and will reopen at 8.30am on Monday 6 January 2025. If any urgent issues arise during this period, please feel free to get in touch by email or report unusual pest or disease symptoms on kiwifruit or vines online here. We will be regularly monitoring these channels and will respond as soon as possible. For urgent reporting of any unusual pests or diseases, the Biosecurity New Zealand hotline (0800 80 99 66) operates 24/7 over the holidays as per usual.
Read more13 Dec 2024
KVH’s submission on proposed amendments to the Biosecurity Act (as completed and submitted on Friday 13 December) can be read here. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is leading the review consultation process and our comprehensive submission on behalf of the kiwifruit industry addresses most of the proposed changes, as these have a bearing on how the biosecurity system will operate in the future. Significant areas for our sector that we have commented on relate to funding and compensation, readiness and response, and long-term management. MPI will now analyse submissions, publish a summary, and make recommendations to the Minister for Biosecurity. It is anticipated Cabinet will consider final policy proposals in 2025. Thank you to those who have discussed the submission with us. We welcome any further questions or feedback about the process at info@kvh.org.nz. Visit the MPI Biosecurity Act review webpage for detailed proposed amendments information Read more about how we developed our submission
Read more02 Dec 2024
In the last Bulletin we mentioned the consultation underway on several proposed amendments to the Biosecurity Act 1993. Our draft submission is now available to view here. We welcome the opportunity for further discussion so please do get in touch at info@kvh.org.nz by 13 December when the submission is due if you have questions. The consultation and our submission have been part of our presentation at the recent Grower Roadshows too, and we thank those of you who have already spoken with us about it. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is leading this process and our comprehensive submission on behalf of the kiwifruit industry will address most of the proposed changes, as these have a bearing on how the biosecurity system will operate in the future. Some of the proposals are significant to our sector, particularly those in the sections about funding and compensation, readiness and response, and long-term management.
Read more