New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries

TheNew Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is the government department responsible for overseeing the nation’s agriculture, fisheries, forestry and food sectors. It develops policy frameworks that support sustainable production, environmental stewardship and market access for primary producers. MPI works directly with farmers, growers, fishers, foresters and processors to improve productivity while ensuring compliance with domestic and international standards. The ministry delivers inspection, certification and risk management services for products destined for both local consumption and export markets. It also administers research funding and innovation programmes aimed at enhancing resilience to climate change and emerging biosecurity risks. MPI administers key legislation such as the Biosecurity Act 1993, the Food Act 2014 and the Animal Welfare Act 1999, which underpin its regulatory functions. Through its export certification system, MPI helps New Zealand primary products meet the requirements of overseas markets, contributing significantly to the country’s trade earnings.

As a national public service agency, MPI operates across New Zealand and collaborates with regional councils, industry organisations and research institutions to implement its programmes. A distinguishing attribute of the ministry is its dual role as both regulator and facilitator, enforcing biosecurity borders, food safety rules and animal welfare legislation while also delivering grants, advisory services and market development initiatives. MPI’s competencies include disease surveillance, import health standard setting, fisheries management and forestry sustainability programmes that are recognised internationally for their rigor. Structurally, the ministry is a Crown entity within the New Zealand State Services, reporting to the Minister for Primary Industries and ultimately accountable to Parliament under the Public Service Act 2020. In September 2021, MPI experienced a denial‑of‑service attack that disrupted its online services alongside those of other government agencies and financial institutions, underscoring the need for robust cyber‑resilience measures in the public sector. The incident was confirmed by Cert NZ, although detailed findings on scope and resolution were not publicly disclosed at the time.