February 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

Xylella Action Group (XAG) Workshop: 3 February

• The Xylella Action Group and BNZ response team members attended a workshop on 3 February 2026 to brainstorm key issues arising from consideration of four Xylella incursion scenarios:

• Detection of Xylella in an urban setting
• Detection of Xylella in a nursery and in a “local” endemic vector– 
• Detection in a new native plant host
• Detection of an exotic high-risk vector

• Workshop findings are still being collated but at a subsequent XAG meeting members agreed the scenarios provided rich insights and that the “rapid-fire” format for the day enabled consideration of diverse scenarios within a short time frame drawing out key issues without getting bogged down in too much detail.

Xylella OA Development: 5 February    

• Discussion focused on cost shares and fiscal caps noting the complexities arising from the varying impact of Xylella’s subspecies on industry parties; not all subspecies affect all parties and parameters will need to vary with subspecies.

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Plant Biosecurity Council (PBS): 13 February
The following key matters were discussed:

• Sector communications coordination, reducing duplication and undertaking a stocktake of existing resources.
• Progressing beetle-related work under GIA, with next steps to convene a meeting of interested partners.
• Potential development of a pan-sector B3 risk analysis project, following discussions with AgResearch.
• Emerging risks and opportunities, including:
  • Visit by an international nematode expert (PHEL).
  • Investigation into the recent BMSB detection in Auckland.
  • Upcoming KVH Biosecurity Symposium (5–6 August 2026).
  • Update on the Vespa velutina response and Operational Agreement.
  • Attendance at the upcoming PBRI conference.
• Plant Sector Māori Advisor update and agreement to extend the pilot.
• A Meeting with NZ Beekeepers to discuss concerns regarding the Vespa velutina response and broader GIA settings.
• An overview of MPI’s Pacific biosecurity programme.
• The GIA Deed Review process.
• B3 update, including engagement in the next steps of Social Licence work.

Fruit Fly Council (FFC): 17 February    
The first Fruit Fly Council meeting of 2026 was held on 17 February, providing members with an opportunity to discuss the 2026 Queensland Fruit Fly Response and review the current 2025/26 work programme:

• Following the conclusion of the 2026 Queensland Fruit Fly Response, Council will be able to contribute to the lessons‑learned process led by Biosecurity New Zealand.
• Council noted progress across several projects within the 2025/26 work programme, including Other Flies classification, fruit fly impacts on indigenous plants, domestic movement control, the regional response workshop, and PhD student funding support.
• The 2026/27 work programme was further refined, with committed projects including a new trade workshop, fruit fly impacts on indigenous plants, domestic movement control, and an assessment of the implementation of the Technical Standard in recent responses. Additional proposals were progressed to the scoping stage and will be presented at the next Council meeting for funding decisions.
• The Terms of Reference were renewed with minor editorial updates.
• The next Fruit Fly Council meeting will be held online on 28 May 2026.
   

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Council (BMSBC): 23 February
The following key matters were discussed:

• Letter of support for a Primary Sector Growth Fund (PSGF) application.
• Update on the 2025/26 work programme, including completion of Harvest Shield Exercise 2.0 and initiation of a project investigating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) use.
• Next steps to refine the draft 2026/27 work programme, including discussion of new initiatives in phenological modelling; native parasitoid testing for BMSB and YSSB; alternative chemical controls for BMSB; and assessment of BMSB tools for application to YSSB and eDNA.
• The next Council meeting will be held online on 26 May 2026.

January 2026 Bulletin 

December 2025 Bulletin

November 2025 Bulletin

October 2025 Bulletin

September 2025 Bulletin 

August 2025 Bulletin 

June/July 2025 Bulletin 

May 2025 Bulletin

April 2025 Bulletin 

March 2025 Bulletin

February 2025 Bulletin