NZPPI is preparing to begin a consultation process with plant producers on the Government Industry Agreement on biosecurity (GIA).

GIA has developed significantly in recent years with more primary industry sectors signing the agreement and beginning to work in partnership with Government and each other on biosecurity.

NZPPI is seeking to bring plant producers into the GIA network and work with the rest of the primary sector to build better biosecurity systems.

Read more about NZPPI’s GIA consultation process here.

Changes to Myrtle Rust Declaration process

NZPPI has updated the myrtle rust declaration process alongside the new NZPPI Myrtle Rust Protocols that were released last week - click here.

The myrtle rust declaration is a signed form that accompanies shipments of myrtaceae plants. It includes a statement that the plants in the delivery have been grown using the NZPPI Myrtle Rust Protocols and have been inspected prior to delivery.

Only businesses that are listed on the NZPPI Myrtle Rust Register can issue a myrtle rust declaration. The declaration provides confidence to plant buyers and the public that the plants are free from the disease.

A description of the myrtle rust declaration process is here and the registration form for the NZPPI Myrtle Rust Register is here.

The NZPPI myrtle rust declaration system is available to NZPPI members and non-members. For more information, contact frances@nzppi.co.nz

Myrtle rust is now across NZ - what this means for plant producers.

The weekly reports on the spread off myrtle rust have hit 600 sites, clearly showing that the disease is now widespread across New Zealand. Most areas that have the climatic conditions for myrtle rust now have the disease.

This was expected, but the spread has happened much faster than the experts expected, and we are now very much living with this disease.

NZPPI has been preparing for this scenario over the past few months. We have been working on the basis that plant producers can effectively manage myrtle rust in their nurseries by implementing good management practices, even in areas where the disease is widespread.

Our work includes strengthening the myrtle rust protocols and increasing the visibility of nurseries that have implemented practices to manage myrtle rust, through the NZPPI myrtle rust declaration process. This process gives confidence to plant buyers and the wider community that nurseries are not a source of the disease.

Our current work is about managing the disease within the nursery and building trust with customers and the public that we are able to do this effectively

The rate of new infections will slow as temperatures drop over winter. This is an opportunity to plan for the next phase, including preparing for more nurseries to find the disease as it becomes more common in the environment, and improving our preparedness and ability to respond when this happens.

Living with myrtle rust:

• The risk of the spread of myrtle rust from well managed nurseries is negligible. The disease is mostly spread by wind.
• We do not believe that restricting the movement of plants from well managed nurseries will reduce the spread of myrtle rust.
• Nurseries play a critical part in the long-term management of the disease.

Introducing the Samurai Wasp

An application has been made to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to introduce the Samurai Wasp into New Zealand as a biocontrol agent for Brown Marmorated Stinkbug (BMSB).

The EPA is seeking views from the public on this. NZPPI will make a submission in support of this application and we encourage plant producers to also have a say. This is part of the work that MPI is doing with the horticulture industry to prepare for a possible incursion of BMSB, which is one the biggest biosecurity threats facing New Zealand.

The Samurai Wasp is a long term natural control tool that could be used alongside other methods to control BMSB without the need to use large amounts of pesticides. It’s tiny, the size of a pinhead and doesn’t sting or bite humans or animals. Female Samurai wasps lay their eggs inside stink bug eggs, reducing stinkbug populations by up to 80%.

This application to EPA is to enable the introduction of the Samurai Wasp in preparation for the possibility of BMSB arriving here.

Public submissions are open now and close at 5pm on Thursday 24 May 2018. You can make a submission via the EPA website here. Alternatively, you can fill in the template submission form here.

If you have any questions about the Samurai Wasp or the submission process contact NZPPI

©2018 NZPPI
New Zealand Plant Producers Incorporated
PO Box 3443, Wellington 6140
Level 5, 23 Waring Taylor Street, Wellington
P: 04 918 3511 | F: 04 499 9589
E: info@nzppi.co.nz | W: www.nzppi.co.nz