2984 (2025). Hon Jo Luxton to the Minister for Biosecurity

2984 (2025). Hon Jo Luxton to the Minister for Biosecurity: What supports or investments, if any, are in place to ensure the capacity of New Zealand’s hatcheries are sufficient for rapid recovery of the poultry industry, in the event of mass culling of poultry due to an event of H5N1?

Hon Andrew Hoggard: I am advised that Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) officials have been working closely with industry to understand what a long-term management approach of H5N1 may look like. This involves identifying what support MPI can provide to enhance industry resilience to disease outbreaks. MPI is also working closely with the poultry sector to improve industry biosecurity readiness and response capability at the farm level and nationally. This work will help mitigate the impacts of an H5N1 outbreak at poultry farms and support a prompt return to trade.