Celebrating our success: Biosecurity Week 2026
Category: National. Posted: 24 July 2026
The final week of July is Biosecurity Week 2026 – an annual celebration of the work of all people involved in protecting Aotearoa from pest species.
Dr Diane Fraser, President of the NZ Biosecurity Institute (NZBI), which promotes the week each year, said the week is an opportunity to highlight the excellent work of all professionals or volunteers in the biological security sector, and to ask for help from all New Zealanders.
“Managing biological threats both from overseas and domestically is the primary role of Institute members, whether it be stopping plant, animal, or disease threats at the border, or controlling biological threats that are already here.
Dr Fraser said the sector has a lot to celebrate:
“The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has indicated that there is a very real possibility of eradicating the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis in the near future. This will be a world first,” she said.
“The effort to eradicate the yellow-legged hornet, is showing positive signs. MPI is cautiously optimistic that eradication can be achieved.
“Successful fruit fly responses in the Auckland area are great examples of MPI, industry and the community getting together behind a vital goal.”
Dr Fraser said the increasing numbers of pest-free sanctuaries on offshore islands, in river and lake beds, and on the mainland, are enhancing precious landscapes more each year.
She said there are many ways New Zealanders can contribute to members’ efforts.
Three easy ways are: to take a snap of any organism that looks out of place and visit the iNaturalist website to identify it, then report it to MPI, or to join a weedbusting group or a community trapping group.
“Every year Institute members spend thousands of hours controlling or managing the risks to the economy, the environment, and human health, from the effects of invasive species.”
“This biosecurity work, which requires the input of all Kiwis to be successful, is vital for the protection of the health and wellbeing of all New Zealanders and kaitiakitanga of our unique taonga species and ecosystems.”
She said Project Janszoon in the Tasman District, Pest-free Hauraki Gulf, Taranaki Mounga, and Predator-free Rakiura are among the many excellent examples of biosecurity programmes which are successful because of community support both nationally and locally.