78697 (2024). Steve Abel to the Minister for Biosecurity

78697 (2024). Steve Abel to the Minister for Biosecurity: What steps, if any, are being taken by the Minister, their Office or MPI to mitigate the risk of avian influenza (bird flu) outbreaks, similar to the one at a chicken farm in North Otago, from occurring in the future?

Hon Andrew Hoggard: The Ministry for Primary Industries is working across other government agencies, including the Department of Conversation and health agencies, industry, local government and community groups to ensure New Zealand is prepared and able to respond to any possible outbreak of avian influenza. While we can’t stop wild birds with HPAI from coming to New Zealand, early detection and strong biosecurity can help to limit the impact of this disease if it gets here. If HPAI H5N1 arrives in New Zealand and establishes in the wild bird population, our response will be focused on reducing the impact on threatened species and on the poultry sector, maintaining supply of poultry meat and eggs to the domestic market and access to overseas markets where possible, and protecting human health. We are closely monitoring developments overseas and learning as much from these as we can. Earlier this year, representatives from the poultry industry and MPI visited the United Kingdom and Australia to learn from their experiences with HPAI. Part of the awareness raising about HPAI has included a recent campaign targeting people on lifestyle blocks, city-dwellers with backyard poultry, bird fanciers, rare breed keepers and people with pet birds to know what to do to protect their birds from this disease.