Bay of Plenty's biosecurity efforts are being hailed a success, with many individuals and organisations walking away winners at a nationwide awards ceremony.

Minister for Biosecurity Damien O'Connor has paid tribute to the winners at the 2018 New Zealand Biosecurity Awards.

Among the list of local winners includes Te Runanga o Ngai te Rangi Iwi Trust, Kiwifruit Vine Health and Scion.

Securing the event's supreme award is Bay of Plenty Regional Council Biosecurity manager Greg Corbett.

'Greg has shown leadership from the grassroots up for over 35 years, protecting New Zealand's farms, forests and waterways from animal pests since 1983,” says Damien.

'It was a pleasure to have awarded the Minister's Biosecurity Award to him.”

The award has been celebrated within the organisation.

BOPRC Integrated Catchments General Manager Chris Ingle says the award speaks volumes about Greg's background in the industry.

'Having started his biosecurity career in 1983 at the age of 17, this award acknowledges Greg's hard work and commitment to protecting not only our region but New Zealand from pest animals and plants and biosecurity disease such as bovine TB and Mycoplasma Bovis.

'Greg has dedicated 35 years and counting protecting NZ from pests. He has not only done the hard yards on hillsides and forest huts but he has been heavily involved in biosecurity research, developing innovative monitoring and control methods to tackle emerging threats to the region. 'Greg is also recognised for his ability to bring people, agencies and resources together to tackle issues.”

Chris also congratulates other local winners.

'Nearly half of the awards, three of the eight, went to Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital partners.

'In addition to Greg taking out the Minister's Award, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Te Rangi Iwi Trust took the top Maori award for its Kaitiaki role in protecting local taonga, and Kiwifruit Vine Health won the top industry award for its ongoing biosecurity work in kiwifruit.

'This shows that The Bay of Plenty is at the forefront of protecting our region from pest incursions.”

Kiwivine Health has also expressed its pride at achieving the New Zealand Biosecurity Industry Award.

KVH chairman Dr Dave Tanner said the win recognised KVH's pivotal role in managing the initial outbreak of the disease and developing robust biosecurity processes and resources to boost the industry's biosecurity integrity.

'KVH was formed in 2010 as the New Zealand kiwifruit industry reeled from the discovery of Psa,” says Dave.

'The small team was tasked with working alongside industry and Government to help growers contain and manage Psa. KVH did a great job and was subsequently tasked with responsibility for addressing all possible pests and incursions. The KVH team is hugely dedicated to its role in helping protect the livelihoods of New Zealand kiwifruit growers through monitoring, education, technology, and partnerships with Government and biosecurity agencies.”

KVH chief executive Stu Hutchings says the award celebrated the partnership approach which had ensured the industry was better placed for any future biosecurity event.

'There is no doubt that by working in partnership, we can achieve better biosecurity outcomes. KVH was the first organisation in New Zealand to sign up to a new collaborative arrangement called Government Industry Agreements; an arrangement which enabled Government and industry to share decision-making, responsibilities and costs for incursions.

'We have also embraced a collaborative approach in partnering in the Port of Tauranga Biosecurity Excellence initiative for many years and are founding members of the exciting new Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital programme,” says Stu.

Stu says recovery from Psa was an achievement of which the entire kiwifruit industry could be proud. KVH and New Zealand growers were passionate supporters of the national strategy of creating a biosecurity team of 4.7 million people.

'We've worked hard in the biosecurity space to ensure a resilient and united voice for the kiwifruit industry, and it's great that our efforts - and those of the people who have worked with us over the years - have been recognised with this award.”