Plant Pass Winter 2024 Newsletter
July 2024
Celebrating environmental stewardship in Aotearoa
Congratulations to our newly certified nursery Groundtruth and newly registered nurseries, Te Tapu o Tāne, and the plant production arm of Taranaki Regional Council.
These three organisations are at the forefront of environmental management and sustainability efforts in New Zealand. They each focus on using science, technology, and community engagement to enhance the natural environment.
Groundtruth, based in Paekākāriki, integrates science and community efforts to manage ecosystems and productive landscapes. Their work prioritises the health of indigenous biodiversity, aiming for sustainable land management supported by local communities.
Te Tapu o Tāne, a native plant nursery in Invercargill, led by local iwi, undertakes large-scale environmental restoration projects. Their mission includes full-scale catchment rehabilitation, integrating traditional Māori knowledge and community involvement to restore natural ecosystems and increase resilience.
Taranaki Regional Council runs the award-winning Riparian Management Programme, focusing on improving water quality and biodiversity through extensive native planting. They work closely with landowners to create riparian management plans, facilitating large-scale planting projects that transform the region’s landscape and protect its waterways.
Together, these organisations are helping ensure the health and vitality of New Zealand's natural landscapes for future generations and exemplify what the Plant Pass scheme is all about.
We now have a total of 76 nurseries in the scheme with 22 certified. An interactive map showing the locations of Plant Pass nurseries across the motu is available here and on the Participating Producers page on the Plant Pass website (just scroll to the bottom).
Plant Pass Partners engage in successful workshops
Plant Pass Partners have been a part of two successful Plant Pass workshops in the latest quarter.
In April Plant Pass Partner, Auckland Council, brought together partners, prospective partners and nurseries to take an in-depth look at Plant Pass and stimulate growth of the network. Of note was excellent feedback from attendees, specifically this this from Janet Cole, Kaihautū |Chief Executive, Kaipātiki Project: “We are very pleased to see Plant Pass gaining momentum across Aotearoa, driving positive change for the industry.”
In June, in conjunction with Plant Pass Partner, Biosecurity Taranaki, the Plant Pass team hosted a workshop near New Plymouth. The workshop fostered a sense of purpose among all participants, paving the way for a more secure and resilient plant sector in Taranaki. Excellent feedback was received and Biosecurity Taranaki’s Chair, Willy Harvey (pictured above with Plant Pass technical advisor Jacinta Harrop), said “today’s workshop has been a testament to the power of vibrant collaboration. We’ve not only shared knowledge but also forged new partnerships and ignited a collective passion for plant biosecurity in Taranaki.”
There is a noticeable buzz in the market around Plant Pass as it builds momentum. We acknowledge that not every prospective Partner is ready to sign up immediately, but these ‘not-quite-ready’ organisations agree in principle with Plant Pass’s aspirations for their organisations and ongoing conversations are being nurtured. The next Partners’ quarterly meeting will be held on 8 July. Prospective Partners area also invited as observers with the opportunity to ask questions.
Collateral to support engagement work with key sectors will be shared shortly. Following requests from both nurseries and partners, a booklet has been developed that identifies common nursery pests and pathogens, explains potential impacts and gives direction on what to do if suspected. This has been assembled with input from Biosecurity New Zealand scientists and subject matter experts. A poster for nurseries is also being developed.
Wider engagement for Plant Pass
For the first time, Plant Pass featured at Fieldays this year. The team had flyers and other collateral in the Forestry Hub, where we had the support of Plant Pass Partners Te Uru Rākau and the Forestry Owners Association. Ben Doherty from Te Uru Rākau and Brendan Gould from the Forestry Owners Association are pictured above.
Waikato Council also supported Plant Pass by showcasing banners, flyers and advocating for best practice biosecurity with a presence in two locations at Fieldays. A total of 106,000 people attended Fieldays during the four-day event.
Plant Pass also had a trade stand at the NZPPI Conference Event in May, which was formally opened by the Minister of Biosecurity Andrew Hoggard. The Minister had heard of the Plant Pass but not the detail so was given an overview by Plant Pass programme manager Karen Scott.
The Plant Pass team will continue to look for opportunities to promote the scheme to producers and potential partners at industry events. If you are aware of a great opportunity to showcase Plant Pass, please reach out to us at office@plantpass.org.nz.
Upcoming Plant Pass Events
The Plant Pass team is hosting several more workshops and webinars this year to enhance plant industry collaboration and knowledge. Some dates and venues are still to be confirmed.
Workshops:
30 July: Van Lier Nurseries, Riverhead, Kumeū Mid-August: Hamilton (date and venue tbc) 17 September: Native Garden Nursery, Gisborne October: Northland (date and venue tbc) November: Christchurch (date and venue tbc)
Webinars:
25 July, 29 August, 26 September, 29 October: Online Q&A sessions with the Plant Pass technical advisor. For more details and registration, visit Plant Pass Events.
NZ Apples and Pears and Summerfruit NZ and join Plant Pass OA
NZ Apples and Pears and Summerfruit NZ have officially joined the Plant Pass Biosecurity Scheme Operational Agreement.
This move, effective from 14 June 2024, is part of a broader effort of the Government Industry Agreement (GIA) for Biosecurity Readiness and Response. This agreement brings together industry and government to collaboratively manage biosecurity threats that could impact New Zealand’s primary industries and economy.
Biosecurity remains a priority for agribusiness
In the latest survey conducted for the 2024 KPMG Agribusiness Agenda, biosecurity has once again emerged as the foremost priority for leaders within New Zealand’s agribusiness sector.
Despite a slight overall decline in priority scores across various issues, “world-class biosecurity” has not only retained its top position but has seen its importance score climb to 9.16, the highest level recorded since 2021.
This heightened emphasis underscores the growing recognition of biosecurity's vital role in safeguarding the nation's food and fibre industries.
MPI looking at Plant Pass to manage Xylella fastidiosa on imported tissue
MPI are reviewing the current measures for managing Xylella fastidiosa in the Nursery Stock import health standard and have sent out some proposed phytosanitary measures for consideration.
Xylella fastidiosa is not in New Zealand but is a bacterium often described as the 'foot and mouth' of plant production and horticulture. It can infect many different plants, including natives and important crops. We don't know the full scale of the damage it could do if it got to New Zealand.
One of MPI's proposed measures on Xylella fastidiosa management is for Plant Pass certification to be seen as an alternative to testing and quarantine requirements for nurseries importing tissue cultures under the Offshore Parent Plant testing option. This proposal shows that MPI views Plant Pass certification as a key risk management step in the plant imports pathway.
Formal consultation on the review is planned for the third quarter of 2024. In the meantime, feedback has been sought from plant importers through online meetings and written submissions. NZPPI has put in a submission supporting the Plant Pass proposal.
Updates to NZPPI Disease Management Platform now include NIWA maps
The NZPPI Disease Management Platform gives those who sign up access to a series of local weather stations and forecast information to help identify risk periods for diseases and plan management measures accordingly.
The platform developed by HortPlus can be found on the NZPPI website here.
The national maps show the overall myrtle rust disease pressure. Other planned platform updates include:
information on the impact of heavy rain fall on fungicide spray application a regular email to producers of disease risk summaries that will also include blackspot and downy mildew.
New app gamifies the hunt for myrtle rust
A brand new augmented reality app, Mātaihia te heka, aims to educate young people about myrtle rust.
Users can virtually inspect tree leaves for yellow splotches, indicating infection. Developed by Kiwa Digital for the Scion’s te ao Māori team, the app makes learning fun and engaging. Initial tests were successful, with young users quickly learning about myrtle rust. One nine-year-old tester even reported finding myrtle rust in real life on a pōhutukawa tree.
The app is part of the Myrtle Rust Science Plan, emphasising research, community engagement, and the integration of mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) to address biosecurity threats. This holistic approach balances scientific research with cultural perspectives to protect New Zealand's natural heritage.