Plant Pass newsletter September 2025

Important improvements to Plant Pass

Kia ora koutou,

In this edition of the Plant Pass Newsletter you will find the latest news and updates from across our industry. You will also find information about improvements we are proposing to make to the Plant Pass standards and the way we provide audits.

Over the past few months, we’ve been busy listening to producers, engaging with partners and refining the programme – and we’re excited to share two important updates that will help shape the future of Plant Pass:

Plant Pass Checklist Version 2.0. Now is the time to have your say (see below) New sector auditor model (see below). Your feedback is important in shaping the Plant Pass standards, ensuring they are robust, but also practical and reflect New Zealand's plant production systems. It is important that the Plant Producers that are required to meet the standards set by Plant Pass should have an opportunity to have a say in the standards.

Together, these changes reinforce Plant Pass as a reliable pathway for biosecurity assurance, supporting nurseries now and in the future.

Ngā mihi,

The Plant Pass Team

Have your say: Refreshed checklist

We're now consulting on the refreshed Plant Pass Checklist Version 2.0. While the checklist, which has been in use since 2022, has proven effective in setting standards, the refresh aims for a more practical and less complex checklist, better aligned with today’s biosecurity risks.

The consultation is open for submissions until 28 October 2025. This is your opportunity to give feedback and ensure the voluntary certification scheme continues to best serve our industry.

Visit the Plant Pass website to:

1. Review the consultation background and guidance
2. Review the refreshed checklist document
3. Complete the form to submit your feedback.

New sector auditor model introduced

Plant Pass has introduced a new sector auditor model to strengthen the integrity, consistency and scalability of certification. This new model:

• Improves consistency across audits
• Ensures auditors have proven nursery knowledge and sector-specific experience
• Scales up delivery as more nurseries join the scheme
• Maintains confidence in the Plant Pass certification process and delivers stronger assurance.

Early adoption is underway and Plant Pass will continue to build on this in the coming year. Go to the Plant Pass website to find out more about the new sector auditor model and support for transition.

Newly certified Plant Pass producers

We congratulate recertified and newly certified participating producers. Thanks for your dedication towards improving biosecurity in Aotearoa!

• Groundtruth Limited Wellington, Certified: CORE www.groundtruth.co.nz
• Stanmore Farm Wellington, Certified: CORE www.stanmorefarm.co.nz
• Plant Hawke's Bay Hawke's Bay, Certified: CORE, MR www.planthawkesbay.co.nz
• Restoring Takarunga Hauraki (RTH) Auckland, Certified: CORE, MR, KS www.rth.org.nz
• Ormond Nurseries Marlborough, Certified: CORE www.ormondnurseries.co.nz
• Vine Nursery New Zealand Hawke's Bay, Certified: CORE www.vinenursery.co.nz

Check out the growing list of actively engaged Plant Pass participating producers.

Certification case study: Plant Hawke's Bay

Congratulations to the Plant Hawke’s Bay team, who have recently completed Plant Pass certification. The company is the first revegetation nursery in Hawke’s Bay to meet the Plant Pass standard.

Managing Director Marie Taylor says the team worked really hard for this biosecurity standard, and their work has improved the nursery systems and processes – and its plants.

Pictured from left are the full time Plant Hawke’s Bay crew: Paul Treneman, Marie, Plant Hawke’s Bay’s Plant Pass Champion Bianca Kitchin, Alice Hawera and Zoe Shore.

Bianca says the business has benefited from having a trackable plant system, with more written procedures. “We can track where plants have come from and we have procedures to ensure plants leaving the nursery are free of pests and diseases,” she says. “It hasn’t cost us a lot of money but we’ve made some good changes, including improving labelling and putting stainless steel tops on two of our rolling tables.”

See all certified and registered participating producers.

New Partner: BBSL

We are delighted to welcome Better Biosecurity Solutions Ltd (BBSL) betterbiosecurity.co.nz as our latest Plant Pass Partner. BBSL is a specialist consultancy offering expert biosecurity and pest management planning services. Providing both generalist and specialist advice, BBSL supports businesses in developing tailored, effective biosecurity strategies to meet their operational requirements.

BBSL plays an active role in promoting best-practice risk management through active involvement in initiatives such as the NZ BioManagers Group and promoting On-Farm Biosecurity at opportune times. The company is also committed to driving good biosecurity across the plant sector, with its participation in the Plant Pass programme reinforcing its leadership in advancing industry-wide standards.

Director Peter Russell has been instrumental in aligning BBSL with Plant Pass Partners. With over 30 years of experience in biosecurity planning, operational delivery, and collaborative initiatives, Peter brings a wealth of expertise and notes, “We are excited to support and lead biosecurity excellence across the sector by joining the Plant Pass Partner network.”

See all Plant Pass partners.

Tomatoes guidelines for virus management

NZPPI and TomatoesNZ have published comprehensive hygiene guidelines specifically tailored for tomato nursery operations to manage the increasing threat of seed-borne viruses.

Specifically, the incursion of tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) in Australia has highlighted the critical importance of robust biosecurity measures.

Developed by NZPPI working closely with TomatoesNZ, the guidelines provide practical steps for producers of tomato, capsicum and eggplant seedlings.

NZPPI and TomatoesNZ recommend that the guidelines are implemented with Plant Pass to reassure customers and regulators that your business has systems in place to manage serious biosecurity risks.

Register for Q&A webinar and November workshops

Q&A Webinar: 29 October 2025 1:30 to 2:30pm

Ask any questions, meet other producers online and get more information about how to implement Plant Pass in your nursery. Biosecurity managers, Plant Pass Partners and potential partners are also warmly welcome.

Workshops in November: Auckland, Nelson, Invercargill

In November, Plant Pass Technical Specialist Jacinta Harrop will be hosting events in Auckland (11 Nov), Nelson (25 Nov) and Invercargill (27 Nov) with a focus on pest management, including Regional Pest Management Plans.

Join us for great discussions and a like-minded network if you are involved in plant production, plant biosecurity or wish to understand more about Plant Pass.

Stay tuned for March 2026 workshops in Northland, Waikato and Christchurch: Dates and venues to be confirmed.

Register an expression of interest for the webinar and/or workshops on the Plant Pass website.

REGISTER NOW →

Checklists check-in

Your regular check-in of quick tips to help meet the Plant Pass Hazard Management Checklists. These quick tips are abbreviated from the full requirements: see Checklist Section 8 - Growing Media.

GROWING MEDIA	RISK MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES	TIPS
Media storage	Avoid contamination	Store media off bare soil, covered and protected from runoff water, weeds, plant debris and other pests.
Sources/suppliers of media	Inspect and record	Maintain records and inspections of incoming media shipments.
Media preparation	Clean areas and tools	Keep tools, equipment and media mixing areas free of pests, plant material and standing water.
Soilless growing media	Avoid contamination	If soilless media is reused/recycled, sanitise or manage to avoid contamination.

Record your risk management procedures in a Nursery Manual or handbook.

For more information, contact Plant Pass Technical Specialist Jacinta Harrop.