Institute welcomes swelling of its ranks
Category: National. Posted: 4 June 2020
INSTITUTE WELCOMES SWELLING OF ITS RANKS
Key biosecurity sector group, the New Zealand Biosecurity Institute is preparing for a swelling of its ranks as a result of the government’s budget package which seeks to put more people into on-the-ground biosecurity projects.
The NZ Biosecurity Institute is the professional training and networking organisation for people involved in biosecurity.
Institute president Alice McNatty said she is expecting to see a lot of new people coming into the biosecurity sector over the next four to five years.
The Institute has welcomed funding initiatives which put more dollars as well as people into projects to control New Zealand’s unwanted animal and plant pests.
Ms McNatty said, of the significant amount of money the government has allocated to environmental projects, a lot is going to biosecurity.
As well as specifically targeted biosecurity spending on wilding pines and wallaby control, plus Predator Free New Zealand projects, there are also significant targeted funding biodiversity projects which will have a major pest control component to them as well.
She congratulated the people this would allow to enter the sector, and welcomed the good work they would continue to do.
“With a new job will come the opportunity to develop new skills, through on-the-job training, and through certification programmes.”
“I hope this will show the biosecurity sector provides a worthwhile career path.”
She said Institute members’ ongoing battle against unwanted animals, plants and diseases will be greatly helped by this increase in funding and on-the -ground staff.
“It will make a world of difference for our native species, and our agricultural industry,” Ms McNatty said.