Archive for March 2023

Two new guidance documents have been developed by  Biosecurity Business Pledge  members to  aid discussion about biosecurity in boardrooms and at  senior leadership tables.   The ‘CEO Guide to Biosecurity’ and ‘Biosecurity Considerations for Boards’ were developed by Pledge signatory organisations in consultation with a cross-section of Pledge chief executives and governors. The significance of…

Respected TMBC supporter and contributor  Rob McGowan (QSM), known as Pa Ropata,  has been awarded the prestigious The University of Waikato Medal for his significant and sustained contribution to protecting Aotearoa’s Indigenous ecosystems. Rob has spent his career helping to regenerate our biodiversity and educating others about our native ecosystems and how to protect them. …

February 2023 will go down as the month that Aotearoa New Zealand experienced one of its worst weather disasters, as Cyclone Gabrielle caused historic extreme rainfall and river flooding, catastrophic wind damage, and substantial storm surges across the North Island. Unfortunately, this culminated in widespread destruction and loss-of-life, with a long and costly recovery ahead. TMBC…

Desi Ramoo is the new Director of B3, replacing David Teulon who is stepping down from the role after 10 years. Over the past decade Desi has worked at the Ministry for Primary Industries, Ministry for the Environment, the government-funded Biological Heritage National Science Challenge, and with private companies in research innovation, commercialisation and community…

Using a 3D-printer to make a model of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) to raise awareness of the potentially devastating pest was one of B3’s summer studentship programme projects. University of Canterbury biological sciences student Joel Tregurtha teamed up with engineering mechatronics student Te Matau O Te Rangi (Te Ati Haunui-a-Pāpārangi) to 3D-print a…

Collaborative action is one the strongest tools for managing biosecurity risks – so we all need to do our bit to stop the spread of Moth plant (kapok plant). Introduced to New Zealand from South America in the late 1880s, this fast growing vine can rapidly smother everything it twines and scrambles around. Sadly the flowers…

The wet summer has not slowed TMBC’s community outreach activities to grow future bio-security champions in Tauranga Moana.  Almost 100 groups took part in our Great Biosecurity Hunt during January. Winners of the three hunts in Papamoa, Tauranga and Mt Maunganui  won great local experiences –  a Big Kanu Glow worm tour, an Okere zip-line…

TMBC has teamed up with PiPS (People and Plants in Schools) to establish sentinel gardens at several primary schools across Mt Maunganui and Papamoa. PiPS is an Incorporated Society formed to support the garden programmes of our member schools by employing Garden Facilitators to help volunteers and staff run their school gardens and other environmentally-based, student…