Top marks for council food safety experts

The small food safety team at the Far North District Council is making a big impact, and they have the audit results to prove it. The council’s Food Verification Agency (FVA) itself underwent an inspection in January, confirming the high standard of its work.

The FVA’s three food safety inspectors cover all 533 registered food businesses in our district, inspecting 337 last year alone. These cover everything from cafés and restaurants to convenience stores, dairies and alcohol outlets.

The FVA was visited in January (2026) by a member of JASANZ, a government-appointed auditing body that has confirmed the team’s robust policies and practices.

Hilary Sumpter, the council’s Group Manager - Delivery and Operations, says government auditors visit every 18 months, and this is the third time in a row that the FVA has passed with flying colours. Ms Sumpter says this result is especially important, because the team needs approval every three years to continue its work, and this has now been granted.

She says a lot rides on these external audits. “They provide the public with confidence that the FVA is doing an excellent job keeping both locals and visitors safe. This helps to protect our district’s reputation as a great food and tourist destination.”

Ms Sumpter says, “This is all due to the team’s commitment. They are incredibly responsive and always looking for ways to improve the way they work.”

Each time a member of the FVA visits a food business, they spend up to three hours checking food safety plans, food-related equipment, and overall hygiene alongside a representative of the business. Ms Sumpter says, “This is important for customers’ health and businesses’ reputation. It’s a small team, but it has a big impact.”