Monthly Bulletin

May 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

Interim Foot and Mouth Council (IFMDC): 9 May
The interim FMD Council met on 9 May 2025, with the following matters discussed:

The appointment of Campbell Parker as Chair and Stuart Anderson as Deputy Chair
Council’s operating rhythm and governance (Meeting frequency, Terms of Reference, and role of the existing Livestock Sector Biosecurity Council)
Finalisation of the FMDOA to sign on 11 June 2025
The development of the 25/26 work programme. Parties held an initial discussion on readiness priorities, mandated projects, and integration of existing work.
Agreement on a provisional maximum readiness budget for the 25/26 year
Consideration of how and when (and if), to obtain external technical input.

Ad-hoc Science Group: 9 May
The Ad-hoc Science Group met on 9 May 2025, with the following matters discussed:

GIA partners want biosecurity considerations included in the development of the new Public Research Organisation (PRO), and for the role of GIA to be clearly understood.
Partners aim to align GIA activities with those of the PRO, including work currently carried out through B3.
The importance of maintaining oversight of two upcoming GIA-focused B3 projects — social licence and surveillance — was noted. A third project involving multi-lure traps was also discussed.
It remains unclear which existing capabilities will be retained in the PRO. Some partners are already engaging with the establishment process.
The group agreed to actively reach out to the PRO using known contacts.
The group agreed to invite a representative from the PRO, or a knowledgeable CRI staff member, to a future meeting.
The second ‘’Gluckman’’ report on science system funding is expected soon. The group will consider it once available.
The group agreed on the need to present a strong case to ensure biosecurity remains a priority in the reform process. Key GIA messages will be considered to support this.

Lepidoptera Working Group Planning Workshop: 12 May
The Lepidoptera Working Group met on 12 May to identify projects in 25/26 to advance readiness through key workstreams:

Readiness plans and products
- Operational Specifications Pilot
- Generic response structure and process – a guide for industry
Surveillance
- Investigate multiple lures in existing trapping grid
- Smart trap scoping exercise
- eDNA - opportunities for application, develop a detection policy, plus communications:
- UV light traps - scoping exercise and cost benefit
Communications across readiness and response
- Response communications plans
- Get a feel for public acceptance of treatment options
- Generic/proactive communications to raise awareness
- Case study template (Spongy moth) - proactive messaging
- Impact assessment of Lepi species (cost benefit)
- Build communications collateral
Project teams will tease these further, developing project proposals, objectives and draft budgets ahead of the August LepiWG meeting.

Xylella Action Group (XAG): 14 May
May’s XAG meeting advanced the 25/26 workplan options and agreed to scope:

A response guide and information video as the next stage of the awareness programme.
A workshop-based think-piece approach where various detection scenarios are explored.
Provisional work on readiness and response measures for growers and nurseries.
Early work to scope a Xylella Forum in 2027.
The meeting also reviewed the outcomes from its April response exercise and identified several pieces of work for XAG and/or BNZ.
Following its development almost three years ago, the group reviewed and identified minor amendments to the GIA Xylella Strategy.
With a view to speeding up the compensation process, industry members will gather information that BNZ is likely to need when considering compensation claims.
Iwi engagement work was identified for the Plant Sector Māori Engagement Pilot.

Lepidoptera Working Group: 20 May

The Lepidoptera Working Group met to review progress on the 24/25 workplan. Three projects are complete and were closed:
- A stocktake of diagnostic capability
- A review and collation of Lepidoptera Surveillance Systems for Application In New Zealand’s Biosecurity Framework
- An update to the 2022 Lepidoptera Readiness Stocktake
Several others were completed earlier in the year:
- Readiness and Response Plans & Products – early work to inform 25/26 workplan.
- Communication and engagement platform – early work to inform 25/26 workplan.
- Establish the GIA Lepidoptera Information Repository
The development of a Btk readiness plan – work to document who, how and what of Btk deployment, has been delayed, but will now proceed, mostly in 25/26.
The group agreed to undertake a refresh of its Lepidoptera Strategy, first developed in 2022.
Work to refine the 25/26 workplan is underway and the group discussed the likely need to prioritise projects identified at a planning workshop on 12 May; anticipated costs exceed group budgets!
The group also reviewed how it might use the PIBC to review OA beneficiaries and this project may proceed with a limited scope.
Priority Lepidoptera work to include in the Plant Sector Māori Advisor pilot was identified, and includes assistance through response plan development, communications and engagement plans and the use of response tools.
The group next meets 6 August 2025.

Solanaceae Biosecurity Working Group (SBWG): 21 May
The Group held its second quarterly meeting on 21 May 2025 and discussed the following:

The Generic Operational Specification was being refined with a final sign-off expected in July 2025.
A current area of focus relating to small seed lots were discussed with representatives from MPI’s Imports and Exports Standards team.
An opportunity was raised for interested Group members to attend the Adelaide based Protected Cropping Australia Conference in late July.
Potential work programme ideas stemmed from the earlier discussions were briefly explored with the agreement that a separate work programme planning session to be set up before the next quarterly meeting.
The next meeting will be held in late July (25/26 FY Work Programme Planning) and the third quarterly meeting will be held in late August/early September 2025.

April 2025 Bulletin

March 2025 Bulletin

February 2025 Bulletin

November 2024 Bulletin

October 2024 Bulletin

September 2024 Bulletin

August 2024 Bulletin

July 2024 Bulletin

February 2024 Bulletin

December 2023 Bulletin