Tracing Narratives of Responsibility for Addressing Aotearoa New Zealand's Myrtle Rust Incursion 2016–2021

Using the 2017 myrtle rust ( Austropuccinia psidii ) incursion into Aotearoa New Zealand as a case study, we analysed media articles to examine how roles and responsibilities of actors are framed in the biosecurity system. We reveal a multi‐layered, evolving and uncertain biosecurity system. Ambiguity over leadership and responsibility in transitioning from ‘containment’ to ‘learning to live with myrtle rust’ created a vacuum which was filled by other biosecurity actors. Analysing media coverage of the incursion response highlighted the challenges associated with sharing responsibility for biosecurity and the need for more timely collaboration with and resourcing for non‐government biosecurity actors.