Articles

01 Jul 2025

ARTICLE - Responding To Xylella Fastidiosa

An incursion of Xylella and an associated biosecurity response in New Zealand would have significant consequences for many of our horticultural industries, and likely for many native plant species as well.

This article was first published in New Zealand Winegrower June-July 2025

01 Jul 2025

ARTICLE - Grazing Sheep in Vineyards

Grazing sheep in vineyards is a well-established practice in New Zealand’s wine industry, offering benefits such as vegetation control and leaf plucking. However, complying with regulatory and biosecurity requirements and ensuring the health and welfare of the animals is essential.

This article was first published in Winepress July 2025.

01 Jun 2025

ARTICLE - Californian Wine Industry Preparing For Spotted Lanternfly Arrival

California, the heart of the US grape and wine industry, officials and growers alike are worried and are making preparations for the arrival of the spotted lanternfly (SLF). The work is also being undertaken to keep it from entering the state.

This article was first published in Winepress June 2025.

01 May 2025

ARTICLE - Protecting Aotearoa From Wind Dispersed Pests

New Zealand has long grappled with the challenge of windborne insects and pathogens slipping past our borders and establishing themselves, exposing a significant vulnerability in our biosecurity system that will likely worsen with climate change. To address this, the five-year "Protecting Aotearoa from Wind-Dispersed Pests" research programme (October 2023 to September 2028) aims to close critical knowledge gaps about how these organisms move and survive.

This article was first published in Winepress May 2025.

01 Apr 2025

ARTICLE - Biosecurity Update: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

BMSB continues to make it’s way around the world and is regularly intercepted at the New Zealand border. As the end of the high-risk season nears for 2024-2025, we provide an update on this most unwanted pest and the activities of the BMSB Council who work to prevent it’s establishment in New Zealand.

This article was first published in Winepress April 2025.

01 Mar 2025

ARTICLE - Global Lessons In Vineyard Biosecurity

Exploring biosecurity practices in leading wine regions such as South Australia and California provides valuable insights into how vineyard biosecurity is managed globally.

This article was first published in Winepress March 2025.

01 Mar 2025

ARTICLE - Biosecurity Never Sleeps

Incursions are a timely reminder of why it’s important for primary industry properties to have a biosecurity plan in place and to remain vigilant for unusual pests or disease symptoms.

This article was first published in New Zealand Winegrower February/March 2025.

01 Feb 2025

ARTICLE - Legislation Review Under Way

Biosecurity Act 1993 legislation review is underway, and proposals cover the key areas of funding and compensation, border and imports, readiness and response, long-term pest management, surveillance and legislative interfaces, and system-wide issues. Changes to several of these areas would have implications for the wine industry

This article was first published in Winepress February 2025.

01 Jan 2025

ARTICLE - New Zealand's National Vine Collection

New Zealand's National Vine Collection boasts about 600 unique grapevine accessions, offering genetic diversity for the New Zealand viticulture industry. Some vines are the only ones of their kind in the country, invaluable for research and breeding.

This article was first published in New Zealand Winegrower Dec 2024 / Jan 2025.

01 Dec 2024

ARTICLE - Vigilance in the Vineyard

Biosecurity challenges that require grower attention locally - GLRaV-3 (leafroll virus), grapevine trunk disease (GTD), garden weevil and Chilean needle grass.

This article was first published in Winepress December 2024.

01 Nov 2024

ARTICLE - A Winning Approach Anna Kelland

Marlborough’s Young Viticulturist of the Year 2024, Anna Kelland, took top national honours for the biosecurity planning part of the Young Viticulturist of the Year 2024 national final. Read about her views on the cost-benefit of being prepared and some advice for developing a biosecurity plan.

This article was first published in Winepress November 2024.

01 Oct 2024

ARTICLE - Biosecurity Watch – Track and trace for vines

The Grafted Grapevine Standard helps reassure growers about the provenance and health of their new vines.

This article was first published in Winepress October 2024.

01 Oct 2024

ARTICLE - Biosecurity Update – Partnering for better biosecurity

The Plant Pass Nursery Biosecurity Scheme promotes the importance of healthy planting material for vineyards.

This article was first published in New Zealand Winegrower October/November 2024.

01 Sep 2024

ARTICLE - Biosecurity Watch – Most unwanted insect pest

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is one of the highest-risk exotic threats to the New Zealand wine industry and several other horticultural industries.

This article was first published in Winepress September 2024.

01 Jan 2024

ARTICLE - Weevils In New Zealand Vineyards

The garden weevil (Phlyctinus callosus), a pest native to South Africa and established in New Zealand since 1893, was identified in 2020 as causing damage to vines in Marlborough vineyards. Eighteen vineyards across Marlborough were sampled for weevils to understand the extent of the garden weevil population and the potential for further impacts.

This article was first published in Winepress January 2024.

01 Nov 2020

ARTICLE - Biosecurity Watch - Chilean Needle Grass

In vineyards, CNG infests headlands, under vine areas, and inter-row spaces and surrounding hills, and is difficult to manage and control.

This article was first published in Winepress November 2020.