New Zealand assesses biodefense, military's role in COVID-19 response

WELLINGTON - New Zealand's Defense Ministry released a biodefense assessment report on Monday, which covers biological hazards and threats facing New Zealand, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"A range of biological hazards and threats, whether they manifest naturally, accidentally, or deliberately, have the potential to have serious impacts on New Zealand's security, and the security of our partners around the globe, as we are currently experiencing," Defense Minister Ron Mark said in a statement.

"Our unique biodiversity, biosecurity, human health, economic wellbeing, Te Ao Maori (Maori language and culture), and way of life could be impacted by biological hazards and threats," Mark said.

Biodefense followed on from the government's Strategic Defense Policy Statement 2018 which, for the first time, recognized climate change as a major driver for defense operations, he said.

"More extreme weather events, changing temperatures, and rising sea levels will change the spread of pests and diseases, and may introduce invasive species into new areas," said the minister.

The Biodefense Assessment report has been developed as part of an ongoing work stream to assess New Zealand Defense Force's (NZDF) support to wider government agencies. The NZDF's role in the COVID-19 response is a key example of this support, he said.