He Tangata, He Taiao, He Ōhanga

Aotearoa is home to incredibly valuable production and indigenous landscapes. To protect them we must anticipate, and have the tools to prevent, future biosecurity threats.

Those involved in our biosecurity system need to be able to identify and prioritise the biggest risks to the sector for which they are responsible, so they can make the most of the limited funds and resources they have.

This investment team worked to ensure system participants (and particularly mana whenua) were able to be actively engaged in the identification and prioritisation of biosecurity risks.

They aimed to incorporate information from a holistic set of values into a biosecurity risk assessment framework. These values included those of kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga, whakapapa, whanaungatanga and tikanga Māori.

The framework the team developed was dynamic and adaptable to work at national, regional and local scales, and account for changes in biosecurity risk to NZ through external influences such as climate, trade and tourism.

The team:

• • carried out a gap analysis to identify existing information knowledge systems, frameworks, networks and research;

• • built engagement networks across the biosecurity system, in co-operation with other parts of the BioHeritage Challenge. This involved activities such as focus groups, hui, workshops, and interviews based on case studies relevant to participant values;

• • conducted a needs analysis which identified where/if training in basic biosecurity concepts may be needed, and these were developed and implemented as part of the ongoing participation work through 2021-2024;

• • designed research activities according to priorities identified in the gap analysis, covering environmental, social, cultural and economic values and Māori values of kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga, whakapapa, whanaungatanga, and tikanga Māori;

• • collaborated with other BioHeritage investments, particularly those under the Tiaki/Protect impact;

• • designed new approaches to convey and exchange biosecurity information;

• • frequently reassessed biosecurity priorities based on the latest knowledge of global threats, emerging national issues and changes in values or environmental conditions;

• • evaluated and monitored all activities to critically reflect and learn.

1. Participation

This workstream prioritised authentic partnership with mana whenua and key participants in the New Zealand biosecurity system. To build a world-class framework, we needed those who have valuable knowledge to be empowered in their space, and be active in identifying and prioritising existing, emerging, latent and recurring risks.

2. Values

The previous biosecurity framework over-emphasised economic values and impact. This workstream aimed to break down the traditional model and rebuild, prioritising Māori values within the context of environmental, economic, social and cultural values.

3. Impact

There’s no point designing the “perfect” biosecurity system if it doesn’t operate in, and respond quickly to, real-life scenarios. Work in this project aimed to ensure the biosecurity risk assessment framework was designed to be dynamic and adaptable, integrated into existing regulatory processes or guidelines and local decision-making.