About the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry informs, advises, regulates and delivers services relating to the agriculture, forestry, rural affairs, bio-security and food safety portfolios. New Zealand is unique in the world in its dependence on a biological and natural resource-based economy and society. Sustaining and managing those resources will continue to be important to New Zealand as a society into the foreseeable future.

At the core of the Ministry's mandate are the issues of sustainability. To meet this mandate is a balancing act for the ministry, as it maximises the shared benefits and minimises the trade-offs between economic growth, environmental management, and social and cultural aspirations. In partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, it works to help win access to overseas markets for New Zealand product.

Further responsibilities of the Ministry:

• Protecting New Zealand's farms and wildlife from imported pests and diseases
• Managing Government-owned forests
• Supporting rural communities with initiatives (such as co-coordinating drought relief and improving telecommunications access)
• Insuring animals are treated humanely
• Encouraging sustainable environmentally friendly farming and growing practices."