The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry - advancing agriculture, horticulture and forestry for the benefit of all New Zealanders

"The 1300 people who work for MAF are all committed to the success of New Zealand's rural sectors. And with good reason - agriculture, horticulture and forestry form the foundation for the New Zealand economy. When our land-based people prosper, New Zealand prospers." Murray Sherwin, Director-General

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has a wide range of roles.

  • We provide the Government and the rural sectors with information, analysis and advice on agricultural and forestry issues.
  • We work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to help win access to overseas markets for New Zealand product. We do much of the thinking behind this country's representation in international organisations such as the World Trade Organisation and the OECD.
  • We set the rules that ensure New Zealand's food products are safe to eat. We then stamp our guarantee on export product so that overseas consumers can choose Kiwi-made food with confidence.
  • We protect New Zealand's farms and wildlife from imported pests and diseases. We work to minimise the number of foreign pests and diseases entering New Zealand, and if they do, we either eradicate them or minimise the damage caused.
  • We manage Government-owned forests.
  • We support rural communities with initiatives such as co-ordinating drought relief and improving telecommunications access.
  • We ensure animals are treated humanely. And we encourage sustainable "environmentally friendly" farming and growing practices.

We are about agriculture, horticulture and forestry, safe food, a protected environment, the wise use of the land, the creation of clean, green product and the economic success of those who produce it.

MAF is about Biosecurity

MAF protects New Zealand from pests and diseases that could damage our farms, animals, plants and forests.

The MAF Quarantine Service defends New Zealand at the border: at airports and sea ports. We use x-ray, detector dogs, searches and other methods to ensure that baggage, mail and shipping containers are free from unwanted animal and plant products.

"Internationally, only five percent of air travellers have their luggage searched. Here we either x-ray or search 100 percent." Grant Burney, Group Director, Operations

The MAF Biosecurity Authority identifies high-risk imports and set standards with which they must comply in order to get into New Zealand. We develop plans to either eradicate or control invading pests and diseases, that have penetrated or may penetrate New Zealand borders. We operate world-class laboratories that investigate such incursions. And we provide assurances that New Zealand's food, fibre and wood exports meet the biosecurity requirements of importing countries.

"New Zealand's native plants and animals are unique. So too is the high quality of our primary products and our clean and green environment. It's vital these precious assets are protected, and we're committed to that." Barry O'Neil, Group Director, MAF Biosecurity Authority

MAF is about Animal Welfare

MAF creates animal welfare standards to ensure the humane treatment of animals and to satisfy international customers that this is so.

MAF is about building partnerships with Māori

Our Māori Strategy Unit aims to increase MAF's understanding of Treaty and Māori issues and priorities, and to develop more effective relationships with Māori.

"The strategy is about reducing barriers in order to improve the potential access to and productivity of Māori land." Tikitu Tutua-Nathan,Corporate Manager, Māori Strategy

MAF is about Food Safety

The MAF Food Assurance Authority gives consumers and foreign governments assurance that New Zealand-produced food is safe and fit to eat - a role essential for the success of agricultural exports.

The Authority makes sure that the food production industry, from farm to factory, has the appropriate measures in place to reduce the risk of food being contaminated.
MAF Food bases its approach to food safety on scientific research. The Authority sets appropriate safety measures, with industry (using agreed management plans) taking responsibility for ensuring that product is "fit for purpose".

MAF Food plays a strong role in the international standard-setting bodies that establish the framework for world food trade. We are responsible for the registration and monitoring of agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines.

"Our aim is to ensure New Zealand food continues to have an unequalled reputation, both in New Zealand and in our export markets." Andrew McKenzie, Group Director, MAF Food Assurance Authority

The MAF Verification Agency provides the hands-on people who work in the meat works, seafood plants and cold storage facilities. We monitor to make sure that product is handled according to set standards. And when it is, we put the MAF guarantee onto that product. In the absence of this New Zealand Government guarantee much New Zealand product would not be accepted by importing countries.

MAF is about Forestry

MAF's Forest Management Group approves sustainable management plans for indigenous forests that produce timber. We make sure, with minor exceptions, that only logs from sustainably managed forests are milled.

We engage forest management companies to manage the Crown's commercial interest in forests planted on land leased from Māori. We run the East Coast Forestry Project - the objective of which is to plant trees on land that is severely eroded or in danger of eroding.

"Our staff have spent many years in the forestry industry and have a wide range of hands-on forestry skills." Murray McAlonan, Group Director, Forest Management Group

MAF is about Exports and Trade

The MAF Policy Group works to win access to overseas markets for New Zealand's primary products. The Group's International Policy Directorate works through formal international channels, such as the World Trade Organisation, to break down barriers to New Zealand's exports and push for world free trade.

The Ministry's Biosecurity and Food Assurance authorities ensure New Zealand export products are safe and meet the international standards required by export markets.

MAF is about Rural People

MAF Policy has a rural community presence with regional offices and staff based around New Zealand. These regional staff are an important link between rural communities and Government. We gather information about what's happening at the grass-roots level. And we give policy advice to central and local government and industry organisations.

MAF creates opportunities for innovative rural people through the Sustainable Farming Fund - a fund that finances environmentally-friendly farming initiatives. Examples of projects include: the establishment of a focus farm to demonstrate practices needed to run an intensive dairy farm with minimal environmental impact; a study on the use of small cell size in beehives to control the varroa bee mite without chemicals; and the collation of information on organic pipfruit growing to help those starting out in the industry.

The Policy Group monitors changes in rural New Zealand and advises Government on problems, adverse events and natural disasters. MAF is the rural community's link to central Government.

MAF is about the Environment

The Ministry focuses on areas of environmental concern. We promote sustainable farming and forestry practises. We provide policy advice on climate change and the implications for agriculture and forestry. And we advise on the management of water resources.

MAF is about Advising Government

The MAF Policy Group provides information, analysis and advice to Government on biosecurity, the business environment, rural communities, Māori development, international trade, food safety, animal welfare, forestry, and horticulture. We also offer policy advice on issues that effect those living in rural communities - issues such as telecommunications, taxation and government service charges.

"We ensure those in power understand what's happening in the agricultural, horticultural and forestry sectors and their associated industries. It's about ensuring those producers can perform to their fullest sustainable potential." Larry Fergusson, Group Director, MAF Policy

Contact for Enquiries

Group Director
MAF Biosecurity Authority
Tel: 04 474 4236
Fax: 04 498 9888

website: www.biosecurity.govt.nz

Group Director
MAF Food Assurance Authority
Tel: 04 474 4250
Fax: 04 474 4240
website: www.maf.govt.nz/food

Group Director
MAF Policy
Tel: 04 474 4175
Fax: 04 473 0118
website: www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/issues/policy

Group Manager
Forest Management Group
Tel: 04 498 9614
Fax: 04 498 9623
website: www.maf.govt.nz/forestry

Manager Māori Strategy
Tel: 04 470 2795
Fax: 04 474 4244
website: www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/publications/m&#257orinews

Chief Financial Officer
Corporate Finance
Tel: 04 460 8703
Fax: 04 460 8701

General Manager Human Resources
Tel: 04 474 4190
Fax: 04 474 4263
website: http://jobs.seek.co.nz/alliance/maf

0800 Reports

  • 0800 809 966 to report suspected exotic diseases in animals and plants
  • 0800 327 027 to report animal welfare complaints
  • 0800 104 070 to report suspected illegal importation of animals, birds or plants or to report the sale of uninspected meat
  • 0800 FootnMouth (0800 366 866) for queries about Foot and Mouth Disease

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526 Wellington,
New Zealand
Telephone 64 4 894 0100 Facsimile 64 4 894 0720
website: www.maf.govt.nz

Contact for Enquiries

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington

Tel: 0800 00 83 33
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
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