Biosecurity New Zealand ends movement controls in Auckland after seven seven-week response
Biosecurity New Zealand has ended its response to a fruit fly detection in the Auckland suburb of Birkdale after no further flies were discovered.
It announced legal controls on fruit and vegetable movements were lifted on 10 April, after seven weeks of intensive fruit fly trapping and inspections of hundreds of kilograms of fruit.
The fly was first discovered on 20 February and the seven-week period gave Biosecurity New Zealand confidence that there was not a breeding population in the area.
Mike Inglis, Biosecurity New Zealand commissioner North, thanked residents and businesses in the affected area for their support of the movement controls, keeping an eye out for fruit flies, and safely disposing of fruit in provided bins.
“Getting to this point wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the North Shore community. I can’t stress enough how vital this work has been to protect our horticulture sector.
“We are satisfied that with no further detections, the controlled area notice restrictions can be lifted, and response operations closed.”
Inglis said would Biosecurity New Zealand would maintain ongoing surveillance across the country.
“Our nationwide routine surveillance will continue with our system of nearly 8,000 fruit fly traps spread across the country and more than 4,600 of these in the Auckland area. These traps are set for three exotic fruit fly species of concern: the Queensland fruit fly, Mediterranean fruit fly, and Oriental fruit flies,” said Inglis.
“I’d also like to acknowledge the good work of our people and our partners across the horticulture sector. By working together and responding quickly, we have managed this situation well.”
