The biosecurity portfolio is one of my most important ministerial responsibilities because it is the portfolio that carries the highest stakes should the worst happen and a serious pest or disease establish itself in New Zealand. The Biosecurity Authority brings together over 80 biosecurity experts and will be the leader and co-ordinator of not only MAF's biosecurity activities, but also New Zealand's total biosecurity programme. The establishment of the Biosecurity Authority follows a number of previous initiatives by this Government in the biosecurity area and honours our serious commitment to biosecurity. These include the establishment of the biosecurity portfolio, the introduction of the Biosecurity Act and the creation of the Biosecurity Council.
Every day there are threats to New Zealand's biosecurity status.
Fortunately the majority of these are intercepted by MAF's quarantine service. In the last 10 years passenger numbers have more than doubled from 1.5 to 3.16 million.