Mycoplasma bovis: MPI begins regional meetings on progress

Photo / File

Regional meetings are under way to outline the Mycoplasma bovis eradication programme's progress to date.

The meetings, organised by the Ministry for Primary Industries, began in Stratford and Hunterville this week and will be held in Oamaru on April 11 and Invercargill on April 12.

Affected farmer meetings would be held between 10.30am and 3.30pm, followed by public meetings at 4pm.

As of March 22, there were 28 infected properties (IP) in the South Island and three in the North Island, 72 properties under restricted place (RP) notices (which included infected properties), and 145 properties under notice of direction.

Read more about Mycoplasma bovis here

There were 19 active infected properties in Canterbury, six in Otago and two in Southland.

Seventy-one properties had IP controls lifted.

The ministry had received 839 claims and 536 claims had been completed or with part payments.

So far, $54million of claims had been paid.

In its latest stakeholder update, MPI said it was putting greater emphasis on reporting RP numbers, rather than IPs, as the RP numbers gave a ''more accurate picture'' of M. bovis in New Zealand.

''All RPs go through the depopulation and cleaning and disinfection processes, and IPs are just a subset of RPs,'' the update said.

Farmer meeting details

POSTPONED - Friday 29 March – Ashburton
Due to the National Commemoration of the Christchurch terror attack, the farmer and public meeting on M. bovis in Ashburton on Friday 29 March has been postponed.

A new date for the meeting will be set as soon as possible.

5 April – Hamilton: Mystery Creek Event Centre, 125 Mystery Creek Road
Affected Farmer Meeting: 10.30am – 3.30pm
Public Meeting: 4.00pm – 5.30pm

11 April – Oamaru: North Star Motel, 495A Thames Highway
Affected Farmer Meeting: 10.30am – 3.30pm
Public Meeting: 4.00pm – 5.30pm

12 April – Invercargill: Corinthian Convention Centre, 154 Esk St
Affected Farmer Meeting: 10.30am – 3.30pm
Public Meeting: 4.00pm – 5.30pm

Monday 15 April – Havelock North: Havelock North Function Centre, 30 Te Mata Road
10.30am – 12pm – Farmer Meeting
12.30pm – 2.00pm – Public Meeting

Tues 30 April - Kaikohe: Kaikohe RSA, 158 Broadway
10.30am – 12pm – Farmer Meeting
12.30pm – 2.00pm – Public Meeting

For more information, please email info@mpi.govt.nz.