Let’s continue to do great mahi
Category: National. Posted: 18 July 2025
BIOSECURITY WEEK 2025: Haumaru koiora kia pai āmua - Biosecurity for a better future.
Let’s continue to do great mahi, for a better future.
That’s the thoughts of the NZ Biosecurity Institute which today [MONDAY 21 JULY 2025] launched Biosecurity Week, aimed at highlighting the activities of all those involved in keeping New Zealand protected from invasive species.
Institute president Dr Rowan Sprague said with competition for funding, it’s vital that biosecurity remains to the forefront of all New Zealanders’ hearts and minds. The theme for this week – Haumaru koiora kia pai āmua Biosecurity for a better future - recognises the reason why we do biosecurity work, as well as the opportunities to learn from each other.
Biosecurity Week is promoted each year by the NZ Biosecurity Institute, the networking organisation for all people involved with biosecurity.
The week centres around the Institute’s annual national gathering known as NETS, to be held this year in Palmerston North.
Dr Sprague said the conference will look at how the latest research and technology can best be used to help the sector to protect native biodiversity and primary productive industries.
Dr Sprague said top technology topics to be discussed this year will include remote detection of pests on the ground, in the air and under the water. She said wallabies, feral cats, invasive shellfish, and invasive pest ferns will be among the many pest species in the conference sights this year.
“As well as needing innovation like the use of remote sensing technology and system efficiencies like the prioritisation of pest species, the sector will always need people power,” Dr Sprague said.