Monthly Bulletin

May 2026

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

GIA Pollination Services Steering Group: 6 May
The GIA Pollination Services Steering Group met on 6 May 2026 and

reviewed progress developing a Pollination Services Continuity Plan. Progressing this work has been both impacted and assisted by the hornet response and the timeline has been recast with completion expected in September;
discussed Cost share options in the absence of issues, drafting will proceed with an execution copy of the OA with a view to having an agreed and sighed OA by the end of June.

Poultry Council: 18 May
The following key matters discussed were:

H7 Otago response industry repayment arrangements
HPAI modelling and vaccination planning
Online response tools project progress
Farmer support roadshows
Containerised Gassing Unit access, governance and use
Heating disinfection trial progress and costs
Supply chain resilience project status
Nitrogen use research approach
Whole house gassing feasibility
Financial relief scoping
Bird control practices
Carcass disposal resource consenting
Roles and responsibilities framework development
The Poultry Council meetings again on 19 June 2026.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Council (BMSBC): 26 May
The following key matters discussed were:

Use and management of 3D BMSB models
Australia’s BMSB surveillance season
Collaboration between New Zealand and Australia
The recent BMSB find in Orakei
Māori engagement in the delivery of BMSB readiness and response activities
The status of the current work programme and options for next year
Alignment with the national biosecurity action plan.

Foot and Mouth Disease Council (FMDC): 27 May
The following key matters discussed were:

Adoption of the FMD Council Strategy (effective 1 July 2026)
Insights from European FMD preparedness and response systems (including the recent German outbreak).
MPI six-monthly biosecurity reporting, and FMD work programme
Stock in transit as a key unresolved issue
Procurement of a national FMD vaccine bank
FMD preparedness work programme, current progress and next year’s budget
Workforce planning for FMD response capability
Compensation framework development for FMD response.

Fruit Fly Council (FFC): 28 May
The following key matters discussed were:

Progress toward the Fruit Fly Operational Agreement fiscal cap
Oriental Fruit Fly incursions and changing risk profile
Six monthly fruit fly reporting
Impacts of fruit fly on New Zealand indigenous plants
Domestic movement controls
A presentation from a PHD student on research on rapid diagnostic technologies (mass spectral fingerprinting), partially funded by the Council.
Planning for an upcoming trade workshop
Draft 2026/27 Fruit Fly Council work programme and budget
Alignment with the Biosecurity Action Plan 2025
New work programme initiatives.