New Zealand horticultural body HortNZ has welcomed the government's plan to fund at least 50% of readiness and response programmes as part of a proposed government-industry agreement.

HortNZ chief executive Peter Silcock said the move would ensure better biosecurity outcomes for all of the country, while also addressing concerns over funding arrangement equity.

"Also we have asked for, and it has been agreed, that we need to discuss how industry can be better informed and engaged in border and pre-border biosecurity activity," he said.

"The horticulture industry's priority now is to prepare industry and product biosecurity plans setting out our priority pests and the activities, plans and capability we need."

Meanwhile, biosecurity officials have blocked the movement of kiwifruit plants from the Te Puke area to control vine canker disease strain Psa-V, website stuff.co.nz reported.

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) response manager David Yard told the website the move was aimed at protecting uninfected orchards outside Te Puke.

"We have established that plant material and rootstock may be able to carry Psa and relocate it to uninfected orchards," he was quoted as saying.

"We need to ensure that plant material from the area known as the priority zone, or from the buffer area around it, is not moved to Psa-free areas."

www.freshfruitportal.com