Plant Pass Summer 2025 Newsletter
Plant producers: are you incursion response ready?
As we step into February 2025, biosecurity remains a top priority for plant producers. The recent detection of Oriental fruit fly in Papatoetoe and the spread of Fall Armyworm serve as a strong reminder of the role we all play in protecting our flora from pests and diseases.
At Plant Pass, we’re committed to supporting nurseries in strengthening their biosecurity measures and working together to safeguard New Zealand’s plant production industry. If you’ve been considering joining Plant Pass as a producer or as a Plant Pass Partner (those who buy plants and/or fund or influence planting projects ), now is the perfect time to take the next step.
Why Join Plant Pass?
🌱 Improve your processes – as a producer you can access tools and resources to refine your nursery’s biosecurity practices and reduce risks.
🤝 Connect and learn – producers and potential Plant Pass Partners are warmly welcome to join our workshops and webinars to share knowledge and gain insights from other producers and partners.
🌍 Be part of a movement – join a growing network dedicated to protecting our industry and environment.
🏆 Get recognised and promoted – demonstrate your commitment to biosecurity by registering and working towards certification or joining as a partner
🔒 Support national biosecurity efforts – play an active role in strengthening New Zealand’s wider biosecurity system.
Upcoming Workshops & Webinars
Our popular half-day workshops are back, hosted by nurseries across Aotearoa/New Zealand. These are free to attend and are open to producers, biosecurity managers, plant buyers, and industry suppliers i.e anyone who is involved in growing plants to sell and/or and supporting plant health and planting projects.
For those who can’t attend in person, our online Q&A webinars offer an opportunity to ask questions, connect with other industry players, and get practical advice on implementing Plant Pass.
The first workshop is being held in Palmerston North on Wednesday April 9 from 10am to 1pm. The venue is still to be confirmed but the website events page will be updated as soon as it's locked in. There will also be rolling updates as we confirm the venues and dates for the four workshops in September and November. If you’re interested in any event, fill in an event attendance form and we will contact you directly once details are confirmed.
2025 is a year of action so let’s continue strengthening biosecurity together. If you’re ready to take the next step with Plant Pass, reach out today!
Welcome to our new Plant Pass Partners
We have welcomed two new organisations to the Plant Pass Partner network.
Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital (TMBC) is a collaborative initiative dedicated to protecting the Bay of Plenty from biosecurity threats. By fostering partnerships across industry, iwi, local and central government, and the community, TMBC actively promotes biosecurity leadership and education. Their commitment to a biosecurity-conscious future aligns perfectly with Plant Pass’s mission to strengthen risk management in plant production.
Taranaki Catchment Communities (TCC), a partnership between mana whenua and government agencies, plays a key role in biosecurity response and readiness, particularly in safeguarding native flora from threats like myrtle rust. Their involvement in Plant Pass reflects a shared commitment to ensuring our indigenous plant species continue to thrive through proactive risk management and sustainable production practices.
With these new partnerships, we continue to build a network that prioritises biosecurity excellence. Thank you to all our Plant Pass Partners for your dedication to protecting Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Reminder: free pest & disease booklet and weekly disease management emails
Weekly emails
As we announced back in spring, producers can sign up for free weekly NZPPI Disease Management updates based on local weather forecasts and disease risk.
The weekly updates are part of the online NZPPI Plant Disease Management Platform and come directly from HortPlus. The emails, which arrive every Friday morning, include:
Accurate forecast information, based on a nursery’s nearest weather station A seven-day disease risk forecast for myrtle rust, black spot and downy mildew. If you would like to receive the updates please contact Jacinta Harrop, NZPPI’s Extension Coordinator and the Plant Pass Technical Advisor at Jacinta@nzppi.co.nz.
Pest and disease booklet
A reminder also that we have a free booklet that highlights significant pests and pathogens relevant to plant producers and nurseries. The eight-page booklet can be downloaded from the Plant Pass website or, if you would like free hard copies delivered to your nursery, email office@plantpass.org.nz with the requested number of copies and your postal address.
ToBRFV: New Zealand stays vigilant as cases rise in Australia
Biosecurity New Zealand is maintaining measures to keep Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) out of the country, following its spread in Australia. The virus, which severely affects tomatoes, capsicums, and chillies, was first detected in South Australia in August 2024 and later in Victoria in January 2025.
ToBRFV causes yellowing, deformities, and reduced yields in affected plants, posing a major biosecurity threat to horticulture. It can spread easily through contaminated seeds, plants, tools, and even clothing.
New Zealand’s Biosecurity Response
New Zealand remains free of ToBRFV, but precautions are in place to prevent its introduction. Since August 2024, Biosecurity New Zealand has:
- Restricted tomato seed imports from Australia, requiring pre-export testing.
- Temporarily suspended imports of tomatoes from all Australian states except Queensland.
- Enhanced surveillance on imported plant material and monitoring within New Zealand’s borders.
While New Zealand remains free of ToBRFV, preventing its arrival is critical for the industry. Growers, retailers, and industry stakeholders should continue to follow biosecurity best practices to protect our horticultural sector.
For more information, visit MPI’s official page on ToBRFV.
Auckland survey: soil disturbance is pathway to kauri dieback spread
Auckland Council, DOC and mana whenua have recently released survey findings confirming that the Hūnua Ranges remain free from kauri dieback disease.
This follows a similar finding in 2021, indicating that the area's kauri trees continue to be unaffected by the pathogen Phytophthora agathidicida.
The absence of the disease in the Hūnua Ranges is attributed to effective biosecurity measures, including controlled access and public education, which have minimised soil disturbance. In contrast, areas with higher foot traffic and soil movement, such as the Waitākere Ranges, have experienced increased infection rates.
“Evidence indicates soil and forest disturbances are introduction pathways for kauri dieback, emphasising the importance of preventing soil movement as key to protecting the health of this forest,” Auckland Council said in a statement.
More information on the survey is available on the Auckland Council website.
Fall Armyworm update: populations exploding in the north
The fall armyworm, first detected in New Zealand in 2022, is now firmly established in Northland. Experts warn that this season may see up to four generations of the pest, potentially causing significant damage to maize and other plants.
Further populations have also been identified in Waikato, Tasman and the West Coast. Producers are advised to monitor their nurseries and plantings.
The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) provides regular online updates on the spread of fall army worm and also has resources and guidance on identification and management.
Phytopythium helicoides identified in New Zealand
A recent update from Biosecurity New Zealand confirms that the plant pathogen Phytopythium helicoides has been detected in two orchards in the Bay of Plenty. This follows its identification through the Emerging Risk System during a check for an import permit.
P. helicoides is one of the most well-known plant-pathogenic species in the Phytopythium group that attack seeds, seedlings, underground parts, roots, collar/crown regions, and trunks of a wide range of plants. Hosts include many flowering plants, fruit and vegetables..
Until now, P. helicoides had been classified as an unwanted organism in New Zealand, leading to the rejection of import permits for nursery stock from countries where it was present. However, new findings indicate that P. helicoides has been here for some time and is now considered established. As a result, it no longer falls under regulatory controls, and import permits will no longer be denied based on its presence.
While this change means that P. helicoides is no longer restricted under import health standards (IHS), it remains a harmful pathogen. New unintentional introductions could still pose risks to nurseries and plant production systems. Biosecurity New Zealand has begun notifying affected importers of these regulatory changes, advising that managing the risks associated with P. helicoides will now fall to industry and importers rather than government regulation.
What this means for Plant Producers
With P. helicoides now recognised as established in New Zealand, industry-wide biosecurity vigilance is crucial to manage the risks posed by this pathogen in production and supply chains.
NZPPI remains engaged in discussions with Biosecurity New Zealand and encourages concerned plant producers and importers to explore risk management strategies, including getting Plant Pass certification or equivalent, to prevent the further spread of P. helicoides.
Fruit fly protections in place until at least mid-February
Biosecurity NZ has announced that movement controls on fruit and vegetables in Papatoetoe will remain in place until at least mid-February as part of the response to the detection of an Oriental fruit fly earlier last month.
The extended timeframe aligns with scientific advice on the fly’s life cycle and is aimed at ensuring no risk of establishment. Movement restrictions and disposal rules within the A and B Zones remain unchanged.
Producers are encouraged to stay informed, adhere to the current controls, and report any signs of fruit flies through MPI’s Pest and Diseases Hotline at 0800 80 99 66. Detailed information on the controlled zones is available on Biosecurity New Zealand’s website.