NZ’s invasive pest control needs a new approach – starting with local government reform

The invasive Mediterranean fanworm. spiderment/Getty Images As Cabinet considers proposals to amalgamate regional authorities as part of its overhaul of local government, much of the discussion has focused on rate increases, roads and water infrastructure. Almost no one is asking how the reconfiguration will affect New Zealand’s biosecurity system. This matters because the current system already faces mounting pressures to protect landscapes, farms and coastlines from invasive pests and…