Front building entrance of the Mt Albert L3B post-entry quarantine facility. Photo: SUPPLIED/Ministry for Primary Industries
The Ministry for Primary Industries has pushed out the opening date for a new quarantine facility for imported plant material by at least five months.
The $17.4 million facility will nearly double the quarantine capacity at the Plant Health and Environment Laboratory in Auckland's Mount Albert to meet the growing need to test imported seeds and plants for pests and diseases.
Construction of the post-entry quarantine facility began in March 2022 and was completed in February this year.
The 12 greenhouses - which would join the 15 existing greenhouses there - were due to open last month, according to MPI's website.
Aerial view of the Mt Albert L3B post-entry quarantine facility. Photo: SUPPLIED/Ministry for Primary Industries
But Biosecurity New Zealand said in a statement, it wouldn't open until early next year while it tested high-spec equipment for the site, like irrigation and grow lights.
MPI has updated its website this week with the new opening date.
Its director of diagnostic, readiness and surveillance, Dr Fleur Francois said the opening date was "always subject to adjustment" while it worked through scientific testing and certification.
"While the practical build was completed at the end of February, we have a very strict post-construction audit process," she said.
"For example, we have some locally sourced plant material and we are testing the building environment, such as the misting and fogging, irrigation and grow lights."
She said this process was to ensure plant material responded well to the new environment.
"Level 3B is the highest level of containment available in New Zealand and these facilities must meet a high level of biocontainment specification to be certified."
The expansion was in response to the long-term need for more level 3B post-entry quarantine space for high-value crops.
"The additional space caters for industry growth by facilitating the importation of new plant varieties," she said.
"Importing new plant material enables further development of New Zealand's plant-based export potential, protects the country from future biosecurity threats, and builds climate resilience.
Francois said the project was on budget.