Ministry for Primary Industries

Ministry for Primary Industries
Māori: Manatū Ahu Matua
Ministry overview
Formed	30 April 2012
Preceding agencies	Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry; Ministry of Fisheries; New Zealand Food Safety Authority;
Jurisdiction	New Zealand
Headquarters	Charles Fergusson Building; 34–38 Bowen Street; Pipitea; Wellington; WELLINGTON 6011;
Annual budget	Total budgets for 2019/20; Vote Agriculture, Biosecurity, Fisheries and Food Safety; $848,779,000; Vote Forestry; $277,099,000
Ministers responsible	Todd McClay, Agriculture, Forestry; Andrew Hoggard, Biosecurity, Food Safety; Shane Jones, Oceans and Fisheries; Mark Patterson, Rural Communities;
Ministry executive	Ray Smith, Director-General;
Child agencies	Agriculture & Investment Services; Biosecurity New Zealand; Fisheries New Zealand; New Zealand Food Safety; Te Uru Rākau (Māori for 'Forestry New Zealand');

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI; Māori: Manatū Ahu Matua) is the public service department of New Zealand charged with overseeing, managing and regulating the farming, fishing, food, animal welfare, biosecurity, and forestry sectors of New Zealand's primary industries.

History

MPI was formed in April 2012 by a merger of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), the Ministry of Fisheries (MFish), and the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA).^[2]

At the 2017 general election, the Labour Party campaigned on disestablishing the Ministry and restoring the previous agencies. However, MPI was not disestablished; instead, it was restructured with Fisheries New Zealand, Forestry New Zealand, Biosecurity New Zealand and New Zealand Food Safety established as new business groups within the larger agency, alongside an agriculture and investment services unit.^[3]

Te Uru Rākau, the New Zealand Forest Service, was re-established in May 2018 after its 1987 disestablishment. It is based in Rotorua.^[4]

In March 2024, the Ministry proposed slashing 384 job following a cost-saving directive from the National-led coalition government.^[5] In May 2024, the Ministry confirmed that it would be slashing 391 jobs, which amounted to ten percent of its workforce. These included 65 early redundancies, 193 vacant positions and 133 non-frontline roles. Those made redundant would be able to apply for new positions. Following a submission from its Biosecurity NZ unit for the retention of its animal and plant health directorate, 22 jobs were retained.^[6]

Structure

The Ministry is structured into ten business units. Each business unit is led by a Deputy Director-General.

Agriculture and Investment Services
Biosecurity New Zealand
China Relations
Corporate Services
Fisheries New Zealand
Māori Partnerships and Investment
New Zealand Food Safety
Policy and Trade
Public Affairs
Te Uru Rākau (New Zealand Forest Service)

List of ministers

The Ministry serves 6 lead portfolios along with 3 associate ministers for Agriculture.

Officeholder	Portfolio(s)	Other responsibility(ies)
Hon Todd McClay	Minister of Agriculture Minister of Forestry
Hon Shane Jones	Minister of Oceans and Fisheries
Hon Andrew Hoggard	Minister for Biosecurity Minister for Food Safety	Associate Minister of Agriculture (Animal Welfare, Skills)
Hon Mark Patterson	Minister for Rural Communities	Associate Minister of Agriculture
Nicola Grigg		Associate Minister of Agriculture (Horticulture)

Primary industries

Colour key (for political parties)
National

	Name	Term of office
1	David Carter	14 December 2011	28 January 2013	Key
2	Nathan Guy	28 January 2013	26 October 2017	Key
2	Nathan Guy	28 January 2013	26 October 2017	English

References

^ "Summary Tables for the Estimates of Appropriations 2019/20 – Total Appropriations for Each Vote". Budget 2019. The Treasury. 30 May 2019.
^ Carter, David (6 March 2012). "MAF to become Ministry for Primary Industries" (Press release). New Zealand Government.
^ O'Connor, Damien (13 December 2017). "O'Connor announces stronger focus for MPI". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
^ "Resurrection of forestry service celebrated". NZ Herald. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
^ Howell, Azaria (21 March 2024). "Public service cuts: Ministry for Primary Industries, Health confirm hundreds of jobs to be slashed". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
^ "NZTA to cut more than 120 jobs, as MPI confirms 391 roles going". RNZ. 16 May 2024. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.

External links

Official website

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[1] "Summary Tables for the Estimates of Appropriations 2019/20 – Total Appropriations for Each Vote". Budget 2019. The Treasury. 30 May 2019.

[2] Carter, David (6 March 2012). "MAF to become Ministry for Primary Industries" (Press release). New Zealand Government.

[3] O'Connor, Damien (13 December 2017). "O'Connor announces stronger focus for MPI". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. Retrieved 21 November 2021.

[4] "Resurrection of forestry service celebrated". NZ Herald. Retrieved 14 February 2023.

[5] Howell, Azaria (21 March 2024). "Public service cuts: Ministry for Primary Industries, Health confirm hundreds of jobs to be slashed". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.

[6] "NZTA to cut more than 120 jobs, as MPI confirms 391 roles going". RNZ. 16 May 2024. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.

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