MPI’s Director of Biosecurity and Animal Welfare Policy, Julie Collins, says established pests are estimated to cost New Zealand’s primary sector up to $3.3 billion annually. “Even small improvements to New Zealand’s pest management system could save millions of dollars in the long term.”

“The National Direction will support national and regional management of challenging pest issues such as wilding conifers, by ensuring consistent approaches to the way rules are set across New Zealand and that landowner obligations are clearly signalled and underpinned by robust analysis,” she adds.

“The National Direction sets overarching requirements for national and regional pest and pathway management plans, and small-scale management programmes. It will ensure that these plans and programmes across New Zealand are clear and consistent, and provide the best value.”

National and regional pest management plans provide significant benefits for New Zealand.

The National Direction will also require all landowners in New Zealand, regardless of tenure, to manage pests spilling across boundaries onto neighbouring properties.

Those who will be directly affected by the National Direction include all regional councils and Kiwifruit Vine Health, the National Beekeepers Association, and OSPRI New Zealand. All these organisations have regional and national plans that manage pests and diseases that affect New Zealand.

The policy came into effect on 24 September.