Kiwifruit Vine Health chief executive Stu Hutchings. Photo / file
Bay of Plenty businesses and experts have won big in the 2018 New Zealand Biosecurity Awards.
Biosecurity New Zealand announced Mount Maunganui-based business Kiwifruit Vine Health as the winner of the New Zealand Biosecurity GIA Industry Award last night.
Mount Maunganui's Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Te Rangi Iwi Trust was awarded the New Zealand Biosecurity Te Puni Kōkiri Māori Award.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council biosecurity manager Greg Corbett won the Minister's Biosecurity Award.
Rotorua's Scion: New Zealand Forest Research Institute won the New Zealand Biosecurity Biological Heritage Challenge Science Award and Dr Amanda Black, originally from Whakatāne, won the New Zealand Biosecurity AsureQuality Emerging Leader Award.
Head of Biosecurity New Zealand Roger Smith said the winners included a wide variety of interesting biosecurity-related projects, which included biosecurity excellence in Tauranga moana.
Smith said the winners also recognised projects that included the protection of New Zealand's kiwifruit industry, improving the outcomes for kōkako, and innovative products such as a portable footwear cleaning system.
"The New Zealand Biosecurity Awards celebrate iwi, environmental organisations, science providers, community groups, local, regional and central government agencies who are working hard to help ensure Aotearoa is safe from pests and diseases," Smith said.
"Their magnificent mahi (work) is fundamental to keeping our biosecurity system strong, and every day they are putting in the hard yards to ensure we continue to have a world-leading biosecurity system."
Environment Southland's Fiordland Marine Pathway Management Plan took out the top prize, the New Zealand Biosecurity Supreme Award.
Their project also received the New Zealand Biosecurity Eagle Technology Local and Central Government Award.
The Fiordland Marine Pathway Management Plan, aims to protect one of New Zealand's most unique and nationally significant areas from marine pests being carried in on local and visiting vessels.
Smith said this year's awards received a record number of high-calibre entries, making it very challenging for the award judges, which were chaired by Dr John Hellstrom.
"These awards are an incredibly important occasion, as they provide a moment of pause to take the time to acknowledge and honour the important achievements happening within our biosecurity system," he said.
The award winners show that biosecurity was not just up to Biosecurity New Zealand, Smith said.
"Every New Zealander has a role to play in preventing pests and diseases from getting into New Zealand or helping to stop their spread if they do get here," he said.
"It takes all of us to protect what we've got."
The winners:
New Zealand Biosecurity Department of Conservation Community Award - Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society
New Zealand Biosecurity GIA Industry Award - Kiwifruit Vine Health
New Zealand Biosecurity Biological Heritage Challenge Science Award - Scion: New Zealand Forest Research Institute
New Zealand Biosecurity AsureQuality Emerging Leader Award - Dr Amanda Black
New Zealand Biosecurity Te Puni Kōkiri Māori Award - Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Te Rangi Iwi Trust
New Zealand Biosecurity Eagle Technology Local and Central Government Award - Environment Southland
New Zealand Biosecurity Mondiale Innovation Award - Jacson3 Limited
New Zealand Biosecurity Supreme Award - Environment Southland
Minister's Biosecurity Award - Greg Corbett