Jacinda Ardern Instagram – Four years ago we were faced with a huge decision. Mycoplasma Bovis, a terrible disease that causes mastitis, pneumonia and arthritis in cows had arrived in New Zealand. The potential impact on our national herd could be devastating. We were faced with the question of how to deal with it. Up until that point, no country in the world had ever tried to eradicate M Bovis, but in a meeting we had with the primary sector representatives, I remember all of us being willing to try and be the first – and so that’s what we’ve done. It’s taken a huge amount of work and sacrifice, and I want to especially acknowledge those farmers who have been impacted directly by this disease. It’s been such a difficult journey. And also, a huge thank you to the scientists and lab technicians like those I met today who have been part of the enormous surveillance programme to try and rid NZ of this disease. The battle is not over, but we currently have just one infected property, and according to a recent report, we are on track to be the first country in the world to eradicate Bovis.