Monthly Bulletin

October 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

Deed Governance Group (DGG): 12 October

The GIA Deed Governance Group met on 12 October 2026 for the first of its Phase II Deed Review discussions. Seven issues were considered, with polling used to test Partner views and identify which proposals should be refined or progressed for further consideration in November.

The Solanaceae Biosecurity Working Group (SBWG): 13 October
The Solanaceae Biosecurity Working Group met on 13 October 2026 to:

Review lessons from previous Solanaceae responses and members’ current readiness activities
Consider emerging risks, and opportunities to strengthen awareness, traceability, surveillance and operational guidance.
Identify waste, composting and wastewater management as issues that may be better progressed across the wider plant sector.
Agree to test wider opportunities at the Plant Sector Planning Days on 27–28 October, then reconvene before Christmas to consider future collective work and the Solanaceae Readiness Operational Agreement.

GIA Operations Ltd (GOL): 14 October
The GOL Board held its annual planning meeting on 14 October 2026 and discussed the following.

Health and safety, including ongoing review of GOL’s Health and Safety Policy
Progress with the GIA Deed Review
GOL’s 2025/26 financial statements and approach to financial assurance
Planning for the Annual Meeting and Annual Shareholder Meeting
Priorities for the remainder of 2026/27 and the longer-term direction of GIA
The GIA Strategic Framework and opportunities to improve accountability reporting
Alignment of GIA activity with the Biosecurity System Action Plan
Opportunities to use technology and AI to support biosecurity outcomes and improve the operation of the partnership.
Engagement with the incoming Government.
Longer-term options for GOL’s corporate structure.

Plant Pass Scheme Management: 20 October
The Plant Pass OA signatories held a workshop on 20 October 2026 to discuss the future of the Scheme including:

The role and value of Plant Pass within the wider biosecurity system
The outcomes partners want from the Scheme in future
Participation, coverage, and incentives to increase uptake
The future direction and work programme for Plant Pass
Renewal of the Plant Pass Operational Agreement
Future Scheme Manager arrangements.

Poultry Council: 21 October
The Poultry Council met on 21 October 2026 and discussed the following matters:

Progress with heat treatment guidance
Development of the poultry supply chain resilience work
Planning for a whole-house gassing practice run for depopulation
Progress with the Poultry Biosecurity Grants Fund
Preparations for the Roles and Responsibilities Workshop
Progress with disposal and composting work
Implementation of the new poultry biosecurity regulations, including registration and auditing arrangements
Current avian influenza surveillance
Updated personal protective equipment guidance
Budget expenditure against the Council’s work programme.

Foot and Mouth Disease Council (FMDC): 23 October
The FMD Council met on Friday 23 October 2026 and discussed the following

Progress implementing recommendations from the review of the FMD Operational Plans and priorities for future readiness work.
Progress with the FMD workforce planning project
Progress with the FMD Council response exercise and planning for the remaining sessions.
Development of compensation methodologies for livestock sectors
Progress negotiating the FMD Vaccine Bank arrangements
A potential FMD Data Strategy project and its relationship with MPI’s response system development work.
The framework for coordinating MPI and industry communications during an FMD response
Potential future zoning and trade recovery
Industry valuations, market access protocols, and future cost shares.

Joint Plant OA Planning: 27-28 October
GIA plant sector partners came together in Wellington on 27–28 October for two days of joint planning:

The planning days brought together members of the Fruit Fly Council, BMSB Council, Xylella Action Group and Lepidoptera Working Group, Plant Plass Scheme and the Solanaceous Biosecurity Working group in a joined-up planning process for the first time.
Partners worked through priorities and planned work for 2027/28, with input from Technical Leads, Biosecurity New Zealand and others helping identify common readiness challenges and opportunities to work across the plant sector.
The planning resulted in indicative 2027/28 work programmes for each group and identified four areas for further pan-sector development: organism management tools; an industry response playbook; broader surveillance; and joint exercising and capability development.
The joint projects will now be scoped further, including what is already underway, likely costs and resource requirements.
The two days also provided valuable time to exchange ideas and strengthen connections across sectors, building a stronger foundation for ongoing joint planning and readiness work.

Chair, Brendan Gould commented that “bringing the councils together in this way was a first, and we now have a useful collective picture of priorities for 2027/28 and a clear set of pan-sector projects to develop further.”

September 2026 Bulletin

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