81836 (2024). Hon Jo Luxton to the Minister for Biosecurity

81836 (2024). Hon Jo Luxton to the Minister for Biosecurity: What, if any coordination is happening between the Minister or his agencies with international partners to monitor and manage the spread of the bird flu virus?

Hon Andrew Hoggard: I met with Hon Clare Scriven MLC, Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Government of South Australia and had a high-level discussion on Australia's response and monitoring of their HPAI H7 outbreak. I also attended an Environment Ministers meeting with the Minister for Conservation, Hon Tama Potaka, where we met with Australian Ministers to understand Australia’s preparation for H5N1, to ensure any learnings can be incorporated for New Zealand’s response. MPI officials have recently travelled to the United Kingdom and Australia to learn from those two countries regarding their recent HPAI responses and to improve our response capabilities. MPI Officials are also in regular contact with their counterparts in the UK, Australia, United States and other jurisdictions regarding High Pathogenic Avian Influenza preparedness.