Competition for all eight categories was tough and the awards judging panel said this year’s entries were the highest quality seen in the six years of the awards, Biosecurity New Zealand’s deputy director-general Stuart Anderson said.
This year’s finalists covered a huge range of the country’s biosecurity challenges, he said.
"They’re inspiring New Zealanders tackling everything from decade-long projects focusing on thousands of hectares, to new innovations taking on biosecurity through molecules.
"New Zealand has one of the strongest multi-layered biosecurity systems in the world. It protects our food and fibre sector where annual export revenue reached more than $53 billion in the year to June 30, 2022."
Judging panel chairman Dr Edwin Massey said the incredible quality of the entries highlighted the diverse work of everyday New Zealanders who maintained and improved our biosecurity system in the face of increasing and evolving threats.
The winners will be announced in Auckland on October 31.
In the community category, Environment Southland is a finalist for its Jobs for Nature Fiordland weed buffer. In the same category, the Whakatipu Wilding Conifer Group is a finalist for its conifer control programme.
The Halfmoon Bay school is up for the school award.
— Staff reporter
