The Government Industry Agreement (GIA) response to Yellow‑legged hornet continues, with efforts currently focused on locating and treating nests in the highest‑risk areas.

Proven tracking techniques are continuing to deliver strong results. Last week alone, five queen hornets were detected, and 17 nests were located and treated. As at today,a total of 75 queen hornets have been found and 127 nests have been identified and destroyed.

Nest tracking remains highly effective, particularly through radio‑tracking, supported by ground surveys, visual monitoring, public reports, and emerging technologies such as thermal drones and AI‑enabled cameras.

These AI cameras, developed by the University of Exeter, have now arrived in New Zealand, and testing will begin next week to assess their effectiveness in identifying areas of hornet activity and potential nest locations. These cameras have been used experimentally in the UK, and the New Zealand response is supporting this research by deploying them at live‑capture feeding traps.

As the response has now removed a substantial number of hornets and nests, teams are spending longer observing feed stations. The use of AI cameras allows hornet activity to be monitored remotely, freeing up field staff to focus on other critical response tasks.

Deployment of Vespex insecticide bait continues in Zones B and C, alongside a trial in Zone A to better understand hornet behaviour and bait effectiveness. Planning is also underway with the Department of Conservation for Vespex use on Rangitoto Island.

International hornet specialists from the UK continue to support on‑the‑ground operations and planning for the next response season.

Everyone on Auckland’s North Shore is being asked to stay alert for hornets and their nests and to report any sightings immediately. While all hornets will die off over winter, any mated queens that evade detection may survive by hibernating and could emerge again in spring.

Read more about the response and how the kiwifruit industry is involved on our response web page here.

The Oriental fruit fly response in Papatoetoe also continues to track well. No new flies have been detected, and cutting of fruit and vegetables within the response area has identified no immature life stages.

Response teams remain highly visible in the community, including engagement at local events and visits to businesses and markets to reinforce movement restrictions and provide information.

The investigation into a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) detection in Orakei, Auckland also remains underway, with no further detections to date.

Nine traps are currently in place near the detection site, including seven sticky traps and two panel traps, with trapping to continue for a further four weeks (from the end of this week) on a fortnightly checking cycle. National BMSB surveillance led by Biosecurity New Zealand also continues to be regularly checked.