The Minister for Biosecurity is a minister in the

New Zealand Government The New Zealand Government () is the central government through which political authority is exercised in New Zealand. As in most other parliamentary democracies, the term "Government" refers chiefly to the executive branch, and more specifica ...

with the responsibility of managing

biosecurity Biosecurity refers to measures aimed at preventing the introduction or spread of harmful organisms (e.g. viruses, bacteria, plants, animals etc.) intentionally or unintentionally outside their native range or within new environments. In agricult ...

. The current Minister for Biosecurity is

Andrew Hoggard Andrew John Hoggard (born ) is a New Zealand dairy farmer and politician. Hoggard held leadership roles with the farmers' advocacy group Federated Farmers from 2014 to 2023, including as president for the final three years. He stepped down ahe ...

History

The portfolio was created after the 1996 general election. Previously, biosecurity matters had been under the purview of the

Minister of Agriculture An agriculture ministry (also called an agriculture department, agriculture board, agriculture council, or agriculture agency, or ministry of rural development) is a ministry charged with agriculture. The ministry is often headed by a minister f ...

; it was

John Falloon John Howard Falloon (17 February 1942 – 4 October 2005) was a New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1977 to 1996, representing the National Party in the Pahiatua electorate. Early life and family Falloon was born in Masterton on 17 Feb ...

, acting in that portfolio, who had been responsible for the passage of the

Biosecurity Act 1993 Biosecurity Act 1993 is an Act of Parliament in New Zealand. The Act is a restatement and reform of the laws relating to pests and other unwanted organisms. It was a world first. In the Act an "unwanted organism" is defined as one that "is c ...

. Briefly from 1998 to 1999 and again from 2011 to 2017, the portfolio was consolidated with other primary industries portfolios, first as the Minister for Food, Fibre, Biosecurity and Border Control and latterly as the Minister for Primary Industries.

List of ministers for biosecurity

The following ministers have held the office of Minister for Biosecurity.

Notes

References

{{NZ ministerial portfolios Lists of government ministers of New Zealand Biosecurity