17 Apr 2015

Biosecurity not just about livestock, kiwifruit

6:31 am on 17 April 2015

Lincoln University is setting up a national Māori biosecurity network to help protect the motu from biosecurity threats.

Large kauri in the Waipoua Kauri Forest

The network will discuss additional measures to protect tāonga species such as kauri. Photo: 123rf

The network will connect organisations to researchers and provide a culturally safe space to talk about issues important to Māori.

The manager of the project, Amanda Black, said the benefit of having such a network was that the country would be better prepared against threats to tāonga species such as kauri, totara, kawakawa and pohutukawa.

She said it would provide a voice for Māori groups that focussed not just on dairy production or kiwifruit but included the rich biodiversity of Aotearoa.

Ms Black said there would be a series of regional hui held at international entry points to form the Māori biosecurity roopu.

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