Port of Tauranga named biosecurity hero

Port of Tauranga chief executive Mark Cairns. Photo/file

Port of Tauranga has been named one of New Zealand's biosecurity heroes by the Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy.

The port has won the industry category of the New Zealand Biosecurity Awards for its initiative to encourage everyone involved in working around the port to have a better understanding of how to keep out pests.

Biosecurity Operational Excellence at Port of Tauranga was launched last year and stemmed from the 2010 Psa incursion which ravaged the kiwifruit industry.

A target pest for the port has been the brown marmorated stink bug, which liked to hitchhike on containers and had the potential to impact significantly on horticulture sectors. Another risk was cruise passengers disembarking with fresh produce that could be hosting fruit flies.

Port of Tauranga chief executive Mark Cairns said by having a heightened awareness of what to look for in day-to-day operations, all staff within the port community could play a part in keeping unwanted pests out of port operations.

"It's about everyone doing their bit and working together to protect New Zealand's environment and primary industries from unwanted biosecurity risks," he said.

Minister Nathan Guy said the winners of the inaugural awards had shown a real commitment to protecting New Zealand.

"Biosecurity is my number one priority as Minister and crucial in protecting our economy and way of life. These awards celebrate the efforts of people who are doing their bit for biosecurity every day."

He said the aim of Biosecurity Excellence was no biosecurity incursions coming through the port.

The Supreme and Government awards winner was the Department of Conservation for its Great White Butterfly Eradication Project. It was the first time an unwanted butterfly population has been eradicated anywhere in the world.

When Biosecurity Excellence was launched in 2016, Mr Guy said it had the potential to be replicated by other ports around New Zealand. It was driven by the port company, Kiwifruit Vine Health, the Ministry for Primary Industries, local government and industry organisations.

The scheme arose from a working group set up in 2014 with the goal to get everyone involved in port activities to have a better understanding of biosecurity risks by supplementing the Ministry's screening and inspection processes.

Kiwifruit Vine Health chief executive Barry O'Neil said at the launch that there were 750 to 1000 people working in and around the port. If they understood what risks to look out for and what needed to happen, it would be a huge addition to the Ministry's inspection process.

The other award winners were Te Tira Whakamataki's Maori biosecurity network, Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust's Wildside project and Don McKenzie for his work with the Northland Regional Council.

Biosecurity Operational Excellence at Port of Tauranga measures include
- New on-site biosecurity signs to help raise awareness of potential threats.
- Training on biosecurity for port workers during induction.
- Regular briefings by MPI for port workers on current pest threats.
- A widely distributed calendar identifying potential pest risks.