Port of Tauranga wins biosecurity award

The award comes following the port’s launch of a partnership with Kiwifruit Vine Health, which aimed to achieve operational biosecurity excellence at the port, including an awareness programme for staff, in 2014.

To teach the port’s staff about biosecurity threats, the port created a calendar identifying the different risks and worked to educate staff so that they are actively on the lookout for hazards.

Biosecurity threats include the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, which likes to hitchhike on containers and can significantly affect horticultural sectors, as well as cruise passengers arriving into the port and getting off with fresh produce that could be playing host to fruit flies.

In the last twelve months, no alerts have been triggered at the port.

“It’s about everyone doing their bit and working together to protect New Zealand’s environment and primary industries from unwanted biosecurity risks,” Mark Cairns, the port’s chief executive, said.

“By having a heightened awareness of what to look for in day-to-day operations, all staff within the port community can play a part in keeping unwanted pests out of port operations.”

Commenting on the inaugural awards, Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy said that the winners have shown a real commitment to protecting New Zealand.

“Biosecurity is my number one priority as Minister and crucial in protecting our economy and way of life,” he said.

“These awards recognise that it is a shared responsibility for all New Zealanders, and celebrate the efforts of people who are doing their bit for biosecurity every day.”

Over 22m tonnes of imports and exports pass through the Port of Tauranga each year, the majority connected to primary industries, meaning that biosecurity threats could have major consequences for New Zealand.

“If we were to have a fruit fly breach in Tauranga that would kill a $60m industry with just one biosecurity risk,” Mr Cairns explained.