Minister and Ministry for Primary Industries

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) was established in 2012 as a result of a merger between the Former Ministry of Fisheries and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. 

Biosecurity New Zealand is a specialist division within the Ministry for Primary Industries which leads New Zealand’s biosecurity system under the Biosecurity Act 1993.

The Minister for Primary Industries manages both saltwater and freshwater fisheries under the Fisheries Act 1996. The Minister determines a wide range of matters, including what quantity of fish can be caught and where, when and how fishing is to be undertaken. The Ministry supports the Minister’s decision-making role by commissioning research, managing stakeholder inputs and providing advice. The Ministry also enforces fisheries regulations.

The Minister for Primary Industries (as the Minister for Aquaculture) also has a role under the Resource Management Act in relation to the management of aquaculture. ¹³¹²

Under the Marine Reserves Act 1971, the Minister of Primary Industries (and Minister of Transport) has a role in deciding whether or not proposed marine reserves should be established. If the Minister does not concur the proposed marine reserve cannot be created.

The Ministry also oversees the Forests Act 1949 and authorises the logging of indigenous trees on private land through the approval of sustainable forest management plans and permits.

In 2017, the newly named Minister for Agriculture, Biosecurity, Food Safety and Rural Communities announced that the government would reorganise the functions of MPI in order to create a stronger focus on core responsibilities. It will set up four portfolio-based entities: Fisheries New Zealand, Forestry New Zealand, Biosecurity New Zealand and New Zealand Food Safety. The Director-General of MPI is currently working with his team to achieve this by April 2018 ⁴⁴⁸⁴ . 

For more information: www.mpi.govt.nz 

Last updated at 3:50PM on March 13, 2018