NEW ZEALAND’S BIOSECURITY RESPONSE SYSTEM - A CASE STUDY ON THE RESPONSE TO Passiflora apetala

New Zealand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) is responsible for leading the country’s biosecurity system. In July 2008, MAF introduced a single system to respond to all organisms or goods that pose a biosecurity risk to the values of New Zealand (economic, environmental, human health and socio-cultural). This system is used for responses from all sectors, of all sizes, resulting from a new incursion or an established risk organism. One such example is MAF’s response to an emerging threat, the bat-wing passion flower (Passiflora apetala) in December 2009. This plant is believed to have been introduced into the country around the mid 1990s for its ornamental value. P. apetala is currently known from discrete populations in the Northland and Auckland regions. Its spread is attributed to subtropical plant enthusiasts and avian vectors. A weed risk assessment indicates the potential for P. apetala to be as invasive as other established Passiflora species in New Zealand. There is a reasonable likelihood of management success for local elimination as P. apetala is in the early stages of naturalisation. A summary of response actions undertaken to date is discussed.