Seen something unusual? MAKE A REPORT
Seen something unusual? MAKE A REPORT
There are eight organisms identified as the biggest biosecurity threat to New Zealand's kiwifruit industry.
12/10/2021
Every New Zealander has a role to play in preventing pests and diseases from getting here or helping to stop their spread if they do arrive. It takes all of us to protect what we’ve got. KVH produces resources that help every person with a connection to the kiwifruit industry know that they also have a special role in managing the threat of unwanted pests and diseases. Sydney Hines, Sybton Hort - biosecurity best practice ensures longevity of production Steve Thomas, Thomas Bros - good biosecurity means we will spot the new and unusual quickly. Campbell Wood, Pivot Horticulture - biosecurity is part of day-to-day best business practice.Darshan Singh, grower and Hume Pack-N-Cool - biosecurity protects our family orchards for future generations. Kiwifruit community biosecurity booklet - guidance about how everyone in or close to the kiwifruit community can help identify biosecurity risks and address them. Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital (TMBC) This is a collaboration between Tauranga Moana iwi, local industries and business, science institutions, educators, central and local government. Its purpose is leading and taking collaborative action towards biosecurity excellence. This coalition is an exemplar for regional collaboration and partnership. Our TMBC focus is on working connecting our communities to the importance of biosecurity; and building collaboration across iwi, hapu, community organisations, industries, science and Matauranga Māori experts, central government and local government to achieve biosecurity excellence. Visit the TMBC website to learn more. Biosecurity Excellence at the Port of Tauranga This award-winning partnership between the Port, several primary industries, and central and local government agencies to prevent and respond to biosecurity risks through the Port of Tauranga. All groups have come together with the goal of having no incursions through the Port. This is achieved by working collaboratively and being committed to biosecurity excellence, through effective biosecurity awareness and the use of the very best tools and technologies, backed by science. This partnership is an exemplar of collaboration within a region, where a Port, a regulator and industry all work together. Excellence programme's pest posters Excellence programme's annual pest pest calendar September 2024 - August 2025Excellence programme's most unwanted pests playing cardsFrontline staff "spot, snap, report" lunch bags Excellence programme flyerExcellence programme poster Biosecurity Blitz regular poster sample - inductions Biosecurity Blitz regular newsletter sample Excellence programme research findings: biosecurity understanding, perceptions, and behaviourExcellence programme research findings: article
Read more10/04/2025
Controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in the Auckland North Shore suburb of Birkdale have been lifted after no further evidence of the Oriental fruit fly was found in the area. The decision to end the operation follows seven weeks of intensive fruit fly trapping and inspections of hundreds of kilograms of fruit, with no further detections. Residents and businesses in the affected area are being thanked for their support of the movement controls, keeping an eye out for fruit flies, and safely disposing of fruit in provided bins. The support from the North Shore community has been vital to protect our industry and the wider horticultural sector. National routine surveillance will continue, with New Zealand’s system of nearly 8,000 fruit fly traps spread across the country, set for three exotic fruit fly species of concern: the Queensland fruit fly, Mediterranean fruit fly and Oriental fruit flies. KVH thanks industry personnel from APAC who collaborated with us on fruit fly response activities in Birkdale.
Read more10/04/2025
We have a new Snapshot podcast online, where we chat with Ryan, Chief Quarantine Officer for the Ministry for Primary Industries, about the work his teams does across biosecurity. Ryan manages the Tauranga, Hamilton, and Northland regions – there are biosecurity teams in all three regions – and in the chat we focus on the way they manage cruise ships, transitional facilities, and various partnerships that they have with KVH and the kiwifruit industry. The Snapshot podcasts are free and available now on SoundCloud and Apple iTunes.
Read more10/04/2025
For those in the Bay of Plenty, the Great Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Hunt is starting tomorrow. Keen to hunt the 'Most Wanted' invasive insects and critters around? Put your wits and skills to the test. Search the spots, answer the clues, and then report what you find. This year, there’s a new site at Waihi Beach joining the Mount, Tauranga waterfront, Katikati, and Te Puke. For further information and to get involved in this epic hunt, with loads of prizes up for grabs visit the Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital (TMBC) website. KVH is a TMBC funding partner and member, bringing together mātauranga Māori, industry, science, education, and government to protect the Bay – and New Zealand’s largest kiwifruit growing region - from pests and diseases.
Read more10/04/2025
KVH recently linked with Scott Wilson, our new Gisborne regional coordinator, in a visit to reconnect with growers for an update on how vine health in the region is tracking following the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle. See a set of images from the visit here. Pleasingly, growers are seeing a marked improvement in vine health as they work to address drainage and compaction issues and continue replanting with the more water resilient Bounty rootstock. The visit also allowed an opportunity to attend an orchard soil assessment discussion held by Agrotechnovation who presented on the value of physical soil classification as a tool for growers to uncover and improve issues impacting orchard performance, and particularly for those on silted sites. Growers from kiwifruit, citrus and grape sectors attended, as well as Zespri staff and the local Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Farm Advisory contact, providing a chance to further build regional networks and connections. The KVH team also met Gisborne pack-house and nursery contacts who connect with us through biosecurity elements of the Pathway Plan including biosecurity plans and Kiwifruit Plant Certification Scheme accreditations. We acknowledge and thank all those who took time from their busy schedules to meet with the KVH team on their day and share their knowledge and insights.
Read more10/04/2025
Biosecurity works – and there’s data to prove it. Prevention pays off and, when applied consistently and properly, protects new areas from incursions. New research published in the Conversation shows that biosecurity policies work to protect the environment and are likely to be cheaper than the cost of control or eradication. Introduced species now cost the global economy an estimated $423 billion annually. This article talks about a century of Antarctic data proving biosecurity policies work. Under the web of agreements governing Antarctica, cargo must be checked for any sign of plants, seeds, insects, and rodents. Visitors must ensure the items they bring are clean. In new research, scientists analysed a century of data on how many species have been introduced to the icy continent and surrounding sub-Antarctic islands. Though there’s little human presence there, many species have been introduced and several have established. But across most sub-Antarctic islands, the rate of introduced species has remained steady, or slowed, after biosecurity policies were introduced, even as more humans arrived. The exception was the Antarctic continent itself, where species introductions are increasing. This is likely due to surging visitor numbers and inconsistent biosecurity efforts between different nations and tourist operators. Image: Expeditioners cleaning their boots at a biosecurity checkpoint. Credit: Murray Hamilton.
Read more10/04/2025
Border controls have been stepped up and remain in place following the Oriental fruit fly responses in Auckland. At the border, Biosecurity New Zealand is continuing to target air passengers with information about Oriental fruit fly, particularly those arriving on flights from Asia, where the pest is established. New digital signage was recently introduced at Auckland Airport, asking passengers to dispose of fruit that could potentially host the pest. Airport seizures over the past six months have been reviewed to determine which fruit and other food items travellers are most likely to bring into New Zealand. It is no surprise that common fruits such as apples, bananas, and jackfruit appear in the top five. Airport messaging will target this list, and Biosecurity New Zealand will monitor its impact on passenger behaviour by tallying what is found in amnesty bins. As an additional verification check, detector dog teams have been reintroduced to sniff passengers after they have been through x-ray screening during peak arrival periods. Especially trained to find fruit fly host materials, detector dogs will also screen mishandled baggage that arrives separately from its owner.
Read more10/04/2025
New Zealand officials are always closely watching foot and mouth disease (FMD) situations, and so are we at KVH. There are many integrated kiwifruit and dairy farming sites connecting the industry to FMD risk, and we will be planning soon for how we ensure industry preparedness if affected. FMD is a highly contagious virus that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, and pigs. In terms of current international risk changes, Biosecurity New Zealand is closely monitoring outbreaks in Germany and Hungary. The disease was confirmed in a small herd of water buffalo in Germany on 10 January – the first outbreak in the country since 2011. On 7 March, Hungary reported an outbreak in a dairy cattle herd near its border with Slovakia. German, Hungarian and Slovakian authorities have introduced a range of control measures to stop the spread, including halting the movement of animals and animal products from the affected areas, culling and disposing of affected animals, and establishing restricted zones. Biosecurity New Zealand introduced extra risk assessment measures for animal product imports from Germany and for travellers arriving from Europe following the first outbreak. They have since introduced additional checks for passengers and animal products arriving from Hungary and Slovakia. New Zealand imports very low volumes of animal product from these countries.
Read more10/04/2025
KVH recently received a report of a raft of eggs on Gold3 leaves through our make a report online form. While the adult nearby the egg mass escaped being photographed two great images of nymphs were supplied which helped confirm that the find was not a BMSB. The images – which you can view here - suggested the unusual egg rafts were those of the Pittosporum shield bug. This species comes from Australia and is found in the North and South Islands. It was first detected in 1950 and occurs on host Pittosporum species and in native ecosystems, breeding from spring onwards, with females continuing to lay eggs until early autumn. Egg batches hatch over several weeks, and so nymphs of all sizes may be present at the same time. Egg rafts of different shield bug species are unique, with colour, shape, size and numbers per cluster valuable clues to help identify unusual finds. Pittosporum shield bug eggs are about 1mm in diameter and laid in clusters of up to 14. Colouration is pale blue-green when first laid, turning white after a few days. A reminder to be in touch with anything you see that is unusual and snap as many images as you can to help support our follow-up.
Read more27/03/2025
Did you know that dogs can play a crucial role in detecting spotted lanternflies? There’s promising news in the ongoing battle against this invasive insect - one of our Most Unwanted threats. Recent research from Cornell University reveals that dogs can help curb the spread of these destructive planthoppers. In the study, dogs outperformed humans, achieving nearly three and a half times more lanternfly detections in trees near vineyards where lanternflies often settle for the winter. This breakthrough highlights an innovative and effective method to combat spread. If you see a spotted lanternfly or egg mass, take a photo, contain it if you can, and report it immediately to us or the Biosecurity New Zealand hotline 24/7 on 0800 80 99 66.
Read more27/03/2025
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) is one of the most significant biosecurity threats to New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry, with a high-risk of entry into the country. This invasive hitchhiker also poses a major threat to Australia. Given our close geographical proximity and strong trade ties, New Zealand and Australia are natural partners in the fight to prevent BMSB from gaining a foothold. Both countries have established robust biosecurity systems to combat such risks and protect their unique environments and industries. Recent reports indicate increasing BMSB pressure in Australia this year, heightening the potential for the pest to establish itself there. Several Australian states have detected BMSB post-border during this high-risk season, prompting authorities to take an extra step up in their biosecurity activities. New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has also taken proactive measures to prepare for the potential establishment of BMSB in Australia. A technical group comprising experts from various fields has been formed to devise strategies for dealing with this scenario. This ensures that if the pest does reach our shores, we are ready to respond immediately, minimising its spread and impact. Additionally, the BMSB Council, which includes KVH as a member, is strengthening collaboration with Australian counterparts. Together, we are circulating readiness plans, enhancing surveillance efforts, and sharing intelligence and response measures. Recent BMSB detections in Australia serve as a timely reminder that biosecurity threats are ever evolving. However, New Zealand and Australia are uniquely positioned to face this challenge together. By leveraging existing partnerships, including those within the BMSB Council, and increasing coordination through technical groups and research initiatives, both nations can effectively prepare for and respond to BMSB risks. This collaboration is key to protecting the industries, economies, and environments of both countries.
Read more27/03/2025
For over two decades, the kiwifruit industry, in collaboration with relevant regional and district councils, has been controlling wild kiwifruit in areas near kiwifruit orchards. The reason we do this work is to prevent pests and diseases from spreading from wild kiwifruit vines into kiwifruit orchards, while also protecting the environment and the kiwifruit industry’s reputation. Surveillance and control of wild kiwifruit now costs the industry and our partners over $600,000 annually. For this reason, KVH, with support from Zespri Innovation, is proactively looking for ways to slow the spread of seed from kiwifruit orchards into the wild in New Zealand. To start, we needed to know what animals were feeding on the kiwifruit in our orchards and potentially spreading the seed. We initiated a project in collaboration with Lincoln University to investigate this further. Dr. Jon Sullivan, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Pest Management and Conservation at the university, brings a wealth of knowledge in ecological monitoring and surveillance of invasive and native species in New Zealand, and how the natural world is responding to the many accelerating environmental changes being driven by human activities. Jon in collaboration with Agriculture Risk Management (Te Puke), documented what animals were visiting kiwifruit orchards to feed on kiwifruit and potentially aiding seed dispersal into the wild. Four kiwifruit orchards in Te Puke were set up with trail cameras, tracking tunnels and AudioMoth acoustic recorders, and both green and gold varieties were monitored from April to September 2024. The study revealed that assorted birds, possums and deer were the main animals feeding on kiwifruit, and that more fruit was eaten by birds than mammals. Overall, 90% of feeding detections were by birds, and the most detected bird species feeding were silvereye, pukeko and blackbirds. A spatial analysis of the wild kiwifruit data also showed a strong relationship between wild kiwifruit and the proximity to kiwifruit orchards. In Te Puke, over 99% of mapped infestations are within 500m of a kiwifruit orchard, indicating that most wild kiwifruit today are direct descendants of orchard plants instead of offspring of seeds from wild plants. This study emphasises the importance of removing all fruit at harvest time and dropping and mulching any leftover fruit after harvest, by no later than 1 July. During the winter months food sources become scarce for wild animals, so by eliminating a highly palatable and desirable food source from kiwifruit orchards, less seed will flow into the wild and less wild kiwifruit will establish. Thank you to Zespri Innovation, Lincoln University, Agriculture Risk Management and the growers involved in this study to help improve our understanding of wild kiwifruit in New Zealand. Images below: a deer and possum feeding on fruit.
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Ceratocystis fimbriata is a soil-borne fungal pathogen that is causing significant damage to kiwifruit orchards in Brazil.
The first reports of a wilt disease in kiwifruit in Brazil appeared in 2010. In the following years, significant vine losses occurred, with some orchards losing 20 - 40% of vines. Over the last five years, some growers have reported 50% vine loss.
There are no efficacious control options available, and once the soil is contaminated, the replanting or re-grafting of new kiwifruit is not sustainable as the new vine will become infected. This pathogen is considered a serious biosecurity threat.
Pest ranking based on the KVH risk matrix
View risk matrixKVH and Zespri are funding a number of research programmes to better understand this pathogen and reduce the likelihood and consequence of impacts to the New Zealand industry.
Read a report following a visit to Brazil to investigate Ceratocystis fimbriata.
Read about pathogenicity screening of isolates on kiwifruit cultivars.
Research proposals are currently being considered to sequence a number of Ceratocystis strains, including the kiwifruit and sweet potato strains. This will significantly advance our knowledge of the pathogen and enable primers to be developed for rapid and accurate detection.
KVH investigates reports of unusual symptoms to identify and manage any biosecurity risks.
12 Oct 2021
Every New Zealander has a role to play in preventing pests and diseases from getting here or helping to stop their spread if they do arrive. It takes all of us to protect what we’ve got. KVH produces resources that help every person with a connection to the kiwifruit industry know that they also have a special role in managing the threat of unwanted pests and diseases. Sydney Hines, Sybton Hort - biosecurity best practice ensures longevity of production Steve Thomas, Thomas Bros - good biosecurity means we will spot the new and unusual quickly. Campbell Wood, Pivot Horticulture - biosecurity is part of day-to-day best business practice.Darshan Singh, grower and Hume Pack-N-Cool - biosecurity protects our family orchards for future generations. Kiwifruit community biosecurity booklet - guidance about how everyone in or close to the kiwifruit community can help identify biosecurity risks and address them. Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital (TMBC) This is a collaboration between Tauranga Moana iwi, local industries and business, science institutions, educators, central and local government. Its purpose is leading and taking collaborative action towards biosecurity excellence. This coalition is an exemplar for regional collaboration and partnership. Our TMBC focus is on working connecting our communities to the importance of biosecurity; and building collaboration across iwi, hapu, community organisations, industries, science and Matauranga Māori experts, central government and local government to achieve biosecurity excellence. Visit the TMBC website to learn more. Biosecurity Excellence at the Port of Tauranga This award-winning partnership between the Port, several primary industries, and central and local government agencies to prevent and respond to biosecurity risks through the Port of Tauranga. All groups have come together with the goal of having no incursions through the Port. This is achieved by working collaboratively and being committed to biosecurity excellence, through effective biosecurity awareness and the use of the very best tools and technologies, backed by science. This partnership is an exemplar of collaboration within a region, where a Port, a regulator and industry all work together. Excellence programme's pest posters Excellence programme's annual pest pest calendar September 2024 - August 2025Excellence programme's most unwanted pests playing cardsFrontline staff "spot, snap, report" lunch bags Excellence programme flyerExcellence programme poster Biosecurity Blitz regular poster sample - inductions Biosecurity Blitz regular newsletter sample Excellence programme research findings: biosecurity understanding, perceptions, and behaviourExcellence programme research findings: article
Read more10 Apr 2025
Controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in the Auckland North Shore suburb of Birkdale have been lifted after no further evidence of the Oriental fruit fly was found in the area. The decision to end the operation follows seven weeks of intensive fruit fly trapping and inspections of hundreds of kilograms of fruit, with no further detections. Residents and businesses in the affected area are being thanked for their support of the movement controls, keeping an eye out for fruit flies, and safely disposing of fruit in provided bins. The support from the North Shore community has been vital to protect our industry and the wider horticultural sector. National routine surveillance will continue, with New Zealand’s system of nearly 8,000 fruit fly traps spread across the country, set for three exotic fruit fly species of concern: the Queensland fruit fly, Mediterranean fruit fly and Oriental fruit flies. KVH thanks industry personnel from APAC who collaborated with us on fruit fly response activities in Birkdale.
Read more10 Apr 2025
We have a new Snapshot podcast online, where we chat with Ryan, Chief Quarantine Officer for the Ministry for Primary Industries, about the work his teams does across biosecurity. Ryan manages the Tauranga, Hamilton, and Northland regions – there are biosecurity teams in all three regions – and in the chat we focus on the way they manage cruise ships, transitional facilities, and various partnerships that they have with KVH and the kiwifruit industry. The Snapshot podcasts are free and available now on SoundCloud and Apple iTunes.
Read more