58121 (2024). Lan Pham to the Minister for Biosecurity

58121 (2024). Lan Pham to the Minister for Biosecurity: How, if at all, will the Ministry for Primary Industries conduct surveillance of avian flu?

Hon Andrew Hoggard: Surveillance of HPAI is occurring to provide a timely and accurate detection of the disease. Surveillance includes the investigation and testing of notifications of bird deaths, and the active surveillance of water fowl living with migratory birds. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is working closely with New Zealand's wildlife hospitals, poultry industry groups, veterinarians, and rehabilitation centres on the monitoring and awareness of high pathogenicity avian influenza to enable early detection. MPI is also working with Fish & Game New Zealand to conduct annual summer field surveillance programmes, and with the Department of Conservation on any suspected exotic diseases in wild bird populations, including native birds. MPI continues to carry out nationwide testing of birds in New Zealand for exotic diseases. Testing kits have also been supplied to people working in Antarctica and on the Sub-Antarctic Islands for use where there are bird deaths that raise concerns.