Biosecurity officer career

Āpiha haumaru koiora

Biosecurity officers check areas of land and water for harmful animals or plants and organise pest destruction and control.

Biosecurity officers check areas of land and water for harmful animals or plants and organise pest destruction and control.

What would you do as a Biosecurity officer?

Biosecurity officers

  • usually work regular business hours but may work extra hours
  • usually work in offices and outdoors and may travel locally
  • may work in all weather and hazardous conditions involving chemicals
  • need to be practical, responsible and safety conscious

Tasks

  • inspect plants, land and water for pests
  • ensure compliance with pest laws
  • report on legal breaches of pest issues
  • develop pest management policies
  • manage pest removal and restoration projects
  • advise landowners on pest control
  • collect data on pest control trials
  • educate the public on pest control
  • arrange for pest removal

How can you become a Biosecurity officer?

You usually need a qualification to become a biosecurity officer and experience may be useful.

You may need

  • a relevant tertiary qualification in horticulture and viticulture, environmental studies, agriculture or similar area
  • a master's degree in environmental sustainability, pest and weed control, ecology or similar area
  • experience in similar work
  • a Growsafe certificate
  • a driver licence

If you're in school

You usually need University Entrance to do the study or training for this job.

Qualifications

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Study an Environmental Sciences or Ecology and Biodiversity major in our Bachelor of Science to understand how ecosystems work and how pests and diseases put them at risk. You'll learn through fieldwork and hands-on lab sessions. Like all our undergraduate degrees, it includes work-integrated learning.

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Biosecurity officer FAQs

Scholarships

A range of scholarships are available to help with the cost of studying at Waikato. Options are available across a wide range of subjects and study levels, including scholarships for new students, current students and specific areas of study.

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QS ranking

QS World University Rankings 2027

Waikato is ranked equal 293rd globally, placing us in the top 1.5% of universities worldwide, and 2nd in New Zealand by citations per faculty.

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School of Science

School of Science, The University of Waikato, Gate 8, Hillcrest Road, Hamilton, New Zealand