September 2025 

This semi-regular update from the GIA Secretariat is intended to provide a general overview of the key matters considered by GIA governance bodies in the preceding month. It is not intended to communicate formal decisions by any of the parties, nor everything that happens within GIA. If there are any questions, or further information is required please contact steve.rich@gia.org.nz

Xylella fastidiosa Response Operational Agreement (XF ROA): 3 September
The following key matters discussed were:

• Parties developing an OA to address a response to any one of three Xylella subspecies met to further advance OA parameters.
• Key issues tested were response phases (before and after the identification of the subspecies and a party not being impacted by that subspecies), fiscal caps, benefit shares and insect vectors.
• Discussions will be further advanced early in October.

Bee Steering Group: 4 September
The focus of the GIA Bee Steering Group meeting on 4 September 2025 was consideration of the draft project brief for the development of a Pollination Services Continuity Plan.

The project is designed to identify sectors and crops reliant on pollination services, how those services are provided, the likely impact of bee-response movement controls and under what circumstances and measures can hive movement (pollination services) be enabled through a response.

Key matters arising to add and/or bolster include:​

• Care to ensure the scope is restricted to pollination services. Other issues pertaining to the management or impact of a bee disease are out of scope
• Engagement with beekeepers through the project
• Include a Te ao Māori lens through the project via the plant sector Māori advisor
• Targeted testing with key stakeholders through plan development
• Testing with Australian counterparts
• Other amendments to the draft were identified and an updated brief will be considered out of session.
• An OA to provide governance and funding for the project is under development. The next iteration will also be considered out of session.

Solanaceae Biosecurity Working Group (SBWG): 4 September
The following key matters were discussed:

• TomatoesNZ’s consideration of removing the ‘new organism’ status of the Pepino Mosaic Virus (PepMV)
• TomatoesNZ’s preference for adopting long-term management as the primary strategy for an outbreak of the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) in New Zealand. 
• Progress made on two of the Operational Specifications currently being developed by MPI. 
• Progress made between TomatoesNZ and MPI towards the launching of a website.
• Confirmation of the Secretariat’s 25/26 FY budget. 

​       Foot and Mouth Disease Council (FMDC): 5 September
       The following key matters were discussed:

• Sheep and pig traceability, including work on the mandatory eASD programme
• Meeting with the OSPRI CEO Sam McIvor covering revised strategy for OSPRI and NAIT, NAIT business plan renewal and system build, and data governance
• The newly agreed Council work programme and revised budget for 25/26, including:

• Approach to Operational Plan and Workforce Planning projects
• Response Governance Exercises
• Compensation Review
• FMD Equipment and Storage
• Vaccination Bank Review
• FMD Response Industry Communications Planning

• Stock Value Options for compensation purposes
• Project budgeting and in-kind guidance
• MPI’s FMD Dashboard
• The FMD Council meets again on 10 October and 9 December 2025.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Council – Surveillance Presentation: 10 September

• The BMSB Council held an out of session presentation on 10 September 2025. Led by Biosecurity NZ’s surveillance team, the presentation outlined the trapping strategy and trap locations for the upcoming BMSB high risk season.

Standing up the Poultry Work Programme under GIA: 12 September
The newly established Poultry Council met on 12 September 2025, with the following matters discussed:

• Establishment of the Poultry Council under the OA, including confirmation of designated decision makers and inaugural Chair (Pete Thomson)
• Repayment requirements for the H7N6 Otago response
• Appointment of the GIA Secretariat as interim OA administrator
• MPI advice that budget will be available in 25/26 for poultry sector readiness, subject to agreement on cost share and activities.
• Options for the first annual readiness work programme.

GIA Operations Limited (GOL) Board: 16 September
The following key matters were discussed:

• Approval of the Secretariat work programme 25/26
• A review of the GIA Operations Limited and GIA Partnership Risk registers
• Working capital funding options for GOL
• July and August financial results
• Planning for forthcoming planning session
• Approval of the amended GOL Procurement policy
• The GOL Board meets again on 21 October 2025.

Plant Biosecurity Council (PBC): 23 September
The following key matters discussed were:

• Confirmation of Brendan Gould as the new Chair
• Updates on emerging biosecurity risks, including Australian responses for shot hole borer, Varroa and Rugose virus, forestry biosecurity readiness, and plant health schemes overseas
• Discussion of system gaps, particularly around bark and ambrosia beetle surveillance and diagnostic capacity
• Update on B3’s pest risk analysis work and opportunities for wider application across sectors
• Māori plant sector advisor update
• Follow-up to the collaboration workshop with Australian peers
• MPI’s operational readiness programme
• Review of B3’s surveillance project and the value of stocktaking existing tools and approaches
• Review of B3’s social licence project addressing complacency in biosecurity
• Agreement on the revised Terms of Reference.
   

Fruit Fly Council (FFC): 25 September
The following key matters were discussed:

• System risk reporting, including biosecurity measures at the Hamilton Airport, the six-monthly system risk report, and an update on the national surveillance programme.
• Follow-up actions from the 2025 OFF Responses including key recommendations from the response debrief and readiness work led by the service provider.
• Updates on the Council’s Readiness Work Programme, with two new projects proposed added.
• Planning of appointing a new Technical Lead by June 2026.
• Key outcomes from the recent visit to Brisbane by two Council representatives.
• The next Council meeting will be held in Wellington, in-person, on 11 November 2025.

Plant Pass Biosecurity Scheme

• Consultation is open on Plant Pass Checklist 2.0, the revised audit and assurance framework designed to simplify requirements and strengthen consistency. Feedback is invited from producers, Partners, Councils and industry stakeholders until 28 October 2025.
  have-your-say-on-new-plant-pass-checklist
• The September Plant Pass newsletter provides updates on scheme development including a new sector auditor model, celebrates certified producers and showcases a case study on Plant Hawke’s Bay. biosecurity/news
• Tomatoes guidelines for virus management; NZPPI worked closely with TomatoesNZ to develop comprehensive hygiene guidelines specifically for tomato nursery operations. The detection of Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) in Australia has underscored the importance of strong biosecurity across the tomato supply chain. The new Guidance Document and Hygiene Posters are available on the NZPPI website. https://www.plantpass.org.nz/biosecurity/news/nzppi-and-tomatoesnz-biosecurity-guidance-for-tomato-nurseries
• Workshops and webinars: Join a Plant Pass webinar on 29 October or attend in-person sessions on 11 November (Auckland), 25 November (Nelson), and 27 November (Invercargill). https://www.plantpass.org.nz/events

August 2025 Bulletin 

June/July 2025 Bulletin 

May 2025 Bulletin

April 2025 Bulletin 

March 2025 Bulletin

February 2025 Bulletin