Pledging to protect biosecurity

A group of 50 New Zealand companies has signed a pledge to protect New Zealand from biological incursions.

The Biosecurity Business Pledge - which includes some of New Zealand's biggest businesses, including Fonterra, Auckland Airport, Goodman Fielder and Mainfreight - was launched yesterday by participating businesses and Biosecurity Minister Damien O'Connor.

"As a nation that depends on trade and tourism, and a country whose lifestyle is linked to our unique natural environment, having a culture of everyone taking responsibility for biosecurity is vital," Mr O'Connor said.

"Our primary sector is worth over $46.4billion annually and tourism is worth over $39billion. The economic benefits of that flow through to all New Zealanders and we have to protect it," he said.

Federated Farmers biosecurity spokeswoman Karen Williams said the campaign was about businesses actively looking for ways to cut out potential risks to protect not just their own interests, but those of their peers.

She said the costs of the Mycoplasma bovis incursion alone have now easily topped $200million, "never mind the heartbreak to affected farming families, while pest plants and insects such as blackgrass, pea weevil and velvet leaf have also cost us all millions of dollars".

The aim of the pledge is to take a proactive approach to biosecurity by improving partnerships between government and businesses, and prevent unnecessary costs and disruptions for businesses and communities.