Plant Pass Newsletter December 2025

Thank you for supporting Plant Pass in 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, despite a tough year in the plant production industry, Plant Pass has held its ground. Three years into the scheme, we now have 88 registered producers, including 29 fully certified – a 20 percent increase that reflects growing confidence in the Plant Pass scheme.

But more than the numbers, this year has seen Plant Pass bring people together in meaningful ways. Workshops, webinars and conferences have developed not only technical knowledge but also a shared sense of purpose.

We have welcomed several new Plant Pass Partners who are backing the scheme, bringing their know-how and supporting the producers that commit to the Plant Pass standards.

Plant Pass Version 2.0 is taking shape and will be released early 2026. Version 2.0 was developed over the past year with input from industry specialists and certified producers. We thank everyone that contributed to this. We believe the new version will improve plant health and biosecurity outcomes and encourage more plant producers and plant buyers into the scheme. We’ve made requirements more practical whilst strengthening the scheme's integrity.

Thank you to our Governance Group, our industry partners and the certified producers that work hard to implement our standards day in and day out. Whether you're working through the Christmas period, or taking time with family, we thank you for your commitment.

Ngā mihi,

The Plant Pass team

Annual Report released

Plant Pass has released its 2025 Annual Report, celebrating the growing number of plant producers, councils and industry groups working together to lift plant biosecurity across New Zealand. The report highlights the contribution of our Plant Pass Partners, who are supporting the certified producers and encouraging others to sign up to the scheme. This year’s report features real-world stories from producers improving hygiene, tightening traceability, and demonstrating professionalism. This shows why their customers have confidence in their plants.

The Annual Report is now available and offers a snapshot of how the scheme is helping to improve plant health and biosecurity for everyone the plants industries.

Version 2.0: Consultation complete and next steps for producers

Thank you to everyone who shared feedback on the draft Plant Pass Checklist Version 2.0. The consultation has now wrapped up, and the response from producers and industry partners has been extremely positive. The feedback confirmed that Version 2.0 is clearer, easier to use, and better aligned with day-to-day nursery practice. We’re now making a few final refinements and aligning the supporting resources with the Checklist.

The official release of Version 2.0 is planned for March 2026, with a 12-month crossover period until February 2027 for producers who are already certified. During this time, both v1.4 and v2.0 will be accepted, giving producers flexibility as they transition.

What this means for certified producers

You’ll be contacted directly with:

• the updated checklist
• supporting resources to help you switch to the new version
• information on how audits will work during the transition.

Update on Sector Auditors

As part of the move to Version 2.0, Plant Pass is also rolling out the new sector auditor model. This shift is designed to improve the audit experience for producers by making audits more consistent, more relevant and more practical.

A sector-specific auditor brings:

• Better understanding of your production system: Auditors will have background knowledge of your crop types and nursery scale, meaning less time explaining your operation and more time focusing on your processes.
• More consistent interpretation of the checklist: The new model includes increased training, calibration and peer review, meaning audits will be consistent with others in your sector.
• More practical and relevant conversations: Sector auditors can provide clearer explanations, understand common challenges and recognise realistic, achievable practice within your type of nursery.
• A smoother audit process overall: Clearer booking processes and coordination will provide more predictable scheduling.

Together, these improvements are designed to ensure that the shift to Version 2.0 is matched with an audit system that feels fair, consistent and genuinely supportive of producers. For any audit queries please contact: office@plantpass.org.nz

We’ll continue to share updates through newsletters, the website and upcoming workshops. Thank you again to everyone who contributed - your feedback has helped ensure Version 2.0 is practical, usable and well-supported.

Using the certified Plant Pass Number

Every certified Plant Pass Producer has a unique Plant Pass Number (for example, PPN:000), which is an industry-recognised code that identifies certified producers.

The PPN is a simple way for plant producers to share their certification status with their customers, partners, councils and regulators. We encourage all certified producers to use it consistently – including plant labels and packaging, promotional material, websites, email signatures – the more visibility, the more value it holds.

Check the Plant Pass Number and find producers near you on our Plant Pass Participating Producers register.

All four ViNA nurseries complete Plant Pass certification

One year after becoming a Plant Pass Partner, NZ Winegrowers is delighted to see that all four Viticultural Industry Nursery Association (ViNA) nurseries have completed Plant Pass certification or achieved it via equivalency, says Sophie Badland, NZ Winegrowers Biosecurity Manager.

NZ Winegrowers was one of the original Plant Pass GIA Operational Agreement signatories in 2021. It then updated its own high health Grafted Grapevine Standard (GGS) to offer equivalence with Plant Pass. Read our full article on the Plant Pass website, where Sophie shares insights on how the scheme strengthens traceability and pest management within the wine industry.

Viticultural Industry Nursery Association nurseries

• Ormond Nurseries, Marlborough, Plant Pass certified, PPN:120
• Riversun Nursery, Gisborne, Plant Pass certified, PPN:101
• Stanmore Farm, Wellington, Plant Pass certified, PPN:178
• Vine Nursery New Zealand, Hawke's Bay, Plant Pass certified, PPN:202

Certification case study

Akura Plant Nursery in Masterton was an early adopter of Plant Pass, pre-registering back in late 2021 and completing certification in early 2023. Owned by Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC), the nursery is a producer of poplar and willow pole species, and also procures eco-sourced native and exotic seedlings from other Plant Pass participating nurseries.

Rachel Scanlan is lead supervisor at Akura. “Plant Pass is a really good resource,” she says. “We're looking for other producers on the Plant Pass website who are accredited and who can supply good quality eco-sourced seedlings.”

In our full article on the Plant Pass website, Rachel explains why Akura joined the Plant Pass scheme, the certification journey and future outlook.

Welcome new Plant Pass Partners

Plant Pass has recently welcomed Taranaki Regional Council, Manawatū District Council and Boffa Miskell to the Plant Pass Partner network.

These partners are well-placed to champion Plant Pass and support the certified Plant Pass Producers that commit to the Plant Pass standards.

Taranaki Regional Council is a founding member of existing Plant Pass Partner, Biosecurity Taranaki. In addition to supporting regional planting initiatives, the council operates a Plant Pass-registered pole production nursery.

Manawatū District Council owns Kawakawa Nursery which specialises in riparian and wetland species. The nursery is working towards joining the Plant Pass scheme.

Boffa Miskell specifies plants for landscape and ecological restoration projects and manages a wide range of biosecurity monitoring and control initiatives across the country. Boffa Miskell's involvement in the Plant Pass scheme reinforces their leadership in advancing industry-wide standards.

New record-keeping templates available on Canopy

Te Uru Rākau – Forestry New Zealand has published templates to support consistent, high-quality record-keeping across native plant production. The suite includes a Native Seed Collection Data Sheet, a Nursery Record Form, and dedicated propagation records for plants grown from cuttings and from seed.

These resources provide a clear structure for tracing source material, monitoring plant health, and documenting propagation practices - areas strongly aligned with the biosecurity expectations embedded in Plant Pass. Nurseries may find these templates a useful addition to their existing systems as they continue to strengthen traceability and good record-keeping practice.

For details and downloads, visit the Canopy website.

Register for 2026 workshops

Join a local Plant Pass workshop 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.

Please visit the Plant Pass website to register your interest for our March 2026 workshops in Northland, Waikato, Nelson, Christchurch or Invercargill. We will advise you on dates and venues as soon as possible.