Activities​

Consolidated Priority Work Areas 
A wide range of biosecurity readiness and response activities are underway at any given time across the GIA Partnership. The mix of activities changes year on year, reflecting factors such as evolving risk assessments, partner priorities, emerging threats, available funding, and lessons from exercises and real‑world responses. To provide a shared picture of this collective effort, the chart available here presents a one‑page overview of all readiness and response activities underway across the partnership at a point in time, showing how different councils, sectors and programmes contribute to New Zealand’s overall biosecurity preparedness.

Plant Biosecurity Council
The PBC brings representatives from horticultural and arable industries and the Ministry for Primary Industries together to work together on biosecurity issues and opportunities affecting New Zealand's plant industries. 

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Council
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Council made up of horticulture industries and the Ministry for Primary Industries have developed an Operational Agreement for BMSB.    

Fruit Fly Council
The Fruit Fly Council made up of horticulture industries and the Ministry of Primary Industries have developed an Operational Agreement for fruit flies.

Foot and Mouth Disease Council
The Foot and Mouth Disease Council (FMDC) is a joint governance body established by Biosecurity New Zealand and six livestock industry organisations: DairyNZ, the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Deer Industry New Zealand, the Meat Industry Association of New Zealand, and the New Zealand Pork Industry Board. Together, these partners oversee the Foot and Mouth Disease Operational Agreement. The Council sets strategic priorities, agrees funding, and oversees delivery of a shared readiness work programme. Current priorities, for 2025/26 include reviewing FMD operational response plans, strengthening industry workforce capability, running response exercises, improving compensation and valuation processes, ensuring equipment and vaccine readiness, and improving coordinated communications to support affected sectors in the event of an outbreak.

Poultry Council
The Poultry Council is a joint governance body established under the Poultry Industries Operational Agreement, bringing together Biosecurity New Zealand and the poultry industry organisations Egg Producers Federation of New Zealand (EPF) and the Poultry Industry Association of New Zealand (PIANZ). The Council provides shared leadership for readiness and response planning for significant poultry diseases under the operational agreement, including High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza, Newcastle Disease and Infectious Bursal Disease. It sets priorities, agrees funding, and oversees delivery of a coordinated readiness work programme focused on early detection, effective response capability, animal welfare, business continuity, and clear communications to support poultry producers and protect New Zealand’s poultry sector.

Solanaceous Biosecurity Working Group
The Solanaceous Biosecurity Working Group brings together impacted horticulture sector parties and the Crown to work together, from a basis of shared understanding, to reduce the impacts of Target Solanaceous Pests by:

a) Minimising knowledge gaps about the pathogen, vector, hosts, environment and their interactions.
b) Developing the ability to rapidly detect Target Solanaceous Pests if present in New Zealand.
c) Having a well-equipped toolbox of surveillance and response tools.
d) Being ready to respond to Target Solanaceous Pests and their vectors.    
e) Having support from the public, Māori and industry for response activities.       
f) Planning to reduce the spread and establishment potential of the Target Solanaceous Pests if eradication is not possible.
g) Understanding how to transition to management and minimise the impacts if we must live with the Target Solanaceous Pests long-term.
h) Minimising the trade implications of a response through consistent communications and following accepted protocols.

Xylella Fastidiosa Action Group
The Xylella Fastidiosa Action Group brings together impact horticultural and arable sectors along with MPI to work together, from a basis of shared understanding, to reduce the impacts of Xylella fastidiosa by;

a) Minimising knowledge gaps about the pathogen, vector, hosts, environment and their interactions.
b) Developing the ability to rapidly detect Xylella fastidiosa if it is present in New Zealand.
c) Having a well-equipped toolbox of surveillance and response tools.
d) Being ready to respond to Xylella fastidiosa and its vectors.
e) Having support from the public, Māori and industry for response activities.
f) Planning to reduce the spread and establishment potential of the pathogen if eradication is not possible.
g) Understanding how to transition to management and minimise the impacts if we must live with the pathogen long-term
h) Minimising the trade implications of a response through consistent communications and following accepted protocols

Lepidoptera Working Group
The Lepidoptera Working Group brings together impacted horticultural, arable and forestry parties and the Crown to work together, from a basis of shared understanding, to reduce the impacts of Lepidoptera by:

a) Having good knowledge of key Lepidoptera threats
b) Being able to rapidly detect and identify new harmful Lepidoptera species.
c) Having the information, tools, processes, and relationships in place to enable responding to detections of new harmful Lepidoptera species in way which is timely and effective.
d) Having decision-maker and community awareness that provides social license to use control tools.
e) Having the information, tools, processes and relationships in place to transition to long-term management, if required.