The response to the Yellow‑legged hornet in Auckland is tracking well, with no hornets or nests detected for more than six weeks, which is considered a strong signal that eradication is achievable.

Detection activity has remained confined to a small area on Auckland’s North Shore, and the lack of recent finds, despite intensive trapping and searching, has increased confidence the incursion is being successfully contained.

As outlined by Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard yesterday, the response is now shifting into a new phase as winter approaches. Field operations will scale back from intensive searching to ongoing trapping and monitoring, while teams prepare for the risk of any surviving queens emerging in spring. The Minister emphasised that eradication will take time, requiring several years of surveillance with no detections, and urged the public to remain vigilant, continuing to report any sightings and take care not to inadvertently spread overwintering queens.

More information is available on the KVH Yellow-legged hornet response page.