A farm simulation in Taranaki on 13 May will kick off a series of foot-and-mouth disease readiness exercises, ahead of a national simulation in July, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says.

The programme includes Exercise Farm Gate and the nationwide Exercise Cloven Shield. MPI will lead the work, which is designed to rehearse the system from on-farm detection and quarantine through to national governance and trade decisions.

Hoggard said the stakes are high: modelling cited by the Minister suggests an uncontrolled outbreak could cost $14.3 billion a year, while eradication could run to $3 billion, with major impacts on trade and rural communities.

MPI and industry partners have long-standing response arrangements that are regularly reviewed and tested. The exercises follow recent regional response workshops, and Government Industry Agreement partners are planning complementary activity.

“It’s reassuring to see this level of preparation for an unlikely event that would have huge impacts,” Hoggard said.