A successful trans-Tasman biosecurity collaboration was held in August 2025, hosted by New Zealand’s Government Industry Agreement for Biosecurity Readiness and Response (GIA) partnership and attended by key biosecurity personnel from Australia. The programme provided an opportunity to share experiences, build connections, and work together on some of the biosecurity issues common to both countries. 

The Australian delegation included representatives from Plant Health Australia (PHA), the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), and the New South Wales (NSW) Government.  

The visit involved a series of meetings and site visits across multiple locations in Wellington, Tauranga and Auckland where the Australian visitors had the opportunity to engage with representatives from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), industry stakeholders, the GIA Operations Limited Board and operational sites within the kiwifruit and avocado sectors.  

One of the highlights of the visit was participation in Harvest Shield 2.0, the second New Zealand Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) response simulation exercise. Held on 14 August 2025 in Tauranga, the exercise tested response capability and offered a real-time look at the coordination required across industry, government, the community and iwi in the event of a BMSB incursion. 

The trip concluded with a tour of the New Zealand International Mail and Freight Processing Centre in South Auckland, giving visitors further insight into New Zealand’s border biosecurity infrastructure. 

The visit included a workshop with the Australian officials and GIA representatives from across the primary sectors. It was a wide-ranging discussion that recognised the strong collaboration already under way, while highlighting the need to build on this further. Plans are already underway to continue building on this momentum, with future exchanges, joint training, and strategic planning initiatives on the horizon.