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EDITORIAL The gateway to GOVERNMENT W GUEST EDITORIAL BY WAYNE MCNEE ith new aquaculture legislation in place, the newly merged MAF is now geared up to support the implementation phase of the reforms. The Aquaculture Unit is our lead on this important work and will continue to help drive environmentally sustainable aquaculture forward. Aquaculture is already on a roll in New Zealand. As the fastest-growing sector of our seafood industry, it accounts for over 20 percent, or $309 million, of our total seafood export revenues. The government recognises the potential of this important industry and is committed to providing a solid platform for the industry to achieve its goal to grow annual exports to $1 billion by 2025. That platform includes the legislative reforms that were enacted on October 1 and non-legislative reforms like the establishment of the MAF Aquaculture Unit. The newly merged MAF is an important part of that platform. With a vision of "growing and protecting New Zealand", the new ministry brings together primary sector agencies under one roof. For the aquaculture industry, this means aquaculture policy development, supporting the growth of the aquaculture industry, marine spatial allocation, biosecurity, food safety and the interface between land and the marine environment. In a previous issue of this magazine, editor Keith Ingram said the Aquaculture Unit should be "akin to Biosecurity New Zealand" or be standalone, "like the New Zealand Food Safety Authority". In fact neither of these bodies has existed for some time, so I'm sure readers would agree we wouldn't want the Aquaculture Unit to be like them! While aquaculture is already an important part of our seafood sector, there are signifi cant opportunities for it to grow. MAF aims to enable the aquaculture industry to seize appropriate opportunities and to build a sustainable industry that will benefi t New Zealand. To accomplish this, we are building an organisation that is much more focused on partnering with and enabling stakeholders. We want to move beyond relationships that are merely transactional and to instead build strategic, long-lasting partnerships. MAF's Aquaculture Unit will continue to be the government's principal adviser on aquaculture issues. It will work closely with the industry, regional government, environmental groups, iwi and others with an interest in New Zealand's coastal waters. Much of the unit's work right now is based on implementing the aquaculture reforms. Part of that includes working to establish the new 300ha marine farming zone off Coromandel. This is a strategic opportunity for the industry to trial the commercialisation of new, high-value fi nfi sh species. The unit has also identifi ed aquaculture settlement areas for the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement and continues to work with regional councils to ensure a smooth transition to the new regime. It is also developing a national aquaculture strategy and plan that will coordinate the government's efforts to facilitate growth in the industry, including market support, research and innovation. It will also lead a review of the land- based aquaculture regime. The Aquaculture Unit sits within the Aquaculture, Growth and Innovation Directorate under the resource management and programmes branch of MAF. Overall, the branch is centred on enabling primary sectors to Wayne McNee drive economic growth within environmental limits. The key to this will be acting as a best practice regulator and establishing policies that underpin primary sector performance. Where possible, we'll also use non-regulatory interventions, including administrating grants and funding programmes that support the primary sectors in achieving growth. Several funds, such as the Primary Growth Partnership and the Sustainable Farming Fund (recently broadened to include aquaculture), directly benefi t the aquaculture industry. Placing the Aquaculture Unit with Growth and Innovation ensures the unit maintains its focus on fostering aquaculture development. Because growth and innovation are the key features of the unit's work, it made good sense to place it within the directorate. Other teams within the ministry will continue to support the Aquaculture Unit's work and provide important input into issues ranging from biosecurity to delivering on the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement and applying the undue adverse effects on fi shing test. MAF will be the "gateway to government" for primary industries. I am confi dent that all those we work with, including those in the aquaculture industry, will quickly see tangible results and benefi ts from this approach. Wayne McNee is the Director-General of the new Agriculture, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Forestry super-ministry. He was previously chief executive of the Ministry of Fisheries. 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