Our response to NAIT consultation feedback

During July and August 2024, we consulted with NAIT users on theirs views of the current NAIT scheme and how it’s put to use. Participants were asked for feedback to establish areas where we can improve.

The consultation received 316 responses from a wide range of participants including farmers and PICAs, meat processors, livestock transport operators, tag manufacturers, information providers, and accredited entities.

Some aspects of the scheme attracted more feedback than others, common themes raised across all consultation questions in order were:

1. NAIT information system (mentioned in 35.0% of total responses)
2. Current approach to compliance (mentioned in 21.4% of total responses)
3. Communication and education (mentioned in 17.2% of total responses)
4. NAIT tags (mentioned in 13.5% of total responses)
5. Support services (mentioned in 8.5% of total responses)

We have read and considered the submissions received. Here’s our response to the common themes we saw:

• We acknowledge that the current NAIT system is not user-friendly and needs better integration with third-party software. We also agree that a phone app that works offline would be helpful for compliance. We are exploring the possibility of replacing the NAIT system to address these issues. Our findings will be included in a draft business case, which we plan to submit to funding agencies for approval in the first half of 2025.
• We are creating more educational resources for PICAs, including walkthrough videos already available on YouTube. We will also look into developing an online resource hub to help PICAs easily find the information they need to meet their obligations.
• We understand how frustrating NAIT tag losses can be for PICAs. That’s why the NAIT Animal Identification Device Standard includes strict requirements for tag retention and readability. Our standards meet or exceed those of similar traceability systems in Australia, the UK, and Canada. All approved NAIT tags sold in New Zealand are also recognised as approved tags by comparable overseas authorities.
• While we are confident that the NAIT tags available in New Zealand are the best RFID tags available worldwide, we acknowledge that there are opportunities to improve tag performance. We will continue to monitor international advancements in RFID technology and explore ways to improve how we track NAIT tag performance to quickly identify and resolve any issues.
• We have employed additional Support Centre people and are actively exploring new more efficient methods to keep call wait times within our three-minute target. We will review staff training to ensure that our advice is high-quality and reflects the realities of working on-farm.

The document below provides further break down and details on our response.

Having access to accurate data about livestock is crucial when dealing with an infectious disease or biosecurity threat. Thank you to everyone that took the time to share feedback on what we can do better to make a system that works for you.

The feedback will be used to help develop the NAIT scheme’s priorities and objectives for the next three years.