41615 (2025). Hon Barbara Edmonds to the Minister for Biosecurity

41615 (2025). Hon Barbara Edmonds to the Minister for Biosecurity: How much money has spent to date, if any, on the Plant Health & Environment Capability Laboratory, Auckland project?

Hon Andrew Hoggard: The Plant Health and Environment Laboratory identifies plant pests and diseases, helps protect New Zealand’s primary industries and environment from suspected exotic organisms, and reassures our trading partners that New Zealand is free of certain pests and diseases. I am advised that funding associated with the Plant Health and Environment Capability Programme totals $78.592 million as of 31 July 2025. Funding was approved in Budget 2023 and by Cabinet in June 2024, and supports activities including (but not limited to) design and planning, early/enabling works, and consenting.