Exotic fruit flies are one of our industry’s biggest biosecurity threats and kiwifruit growers know better than anyone the threat they pose – as proven by the importance placed on the workshop at the recent Symposium.

To help manage this threat, Biosecurity New Zealand undertakes national surveillance for exotic fruit flies. Delivered by AsureQuality for more than 30 years, the programme is designed to detect exotic fruit flies that make it into New Zealand. Detections through this programme have triggered 16 successful biosecurity responses since 1990, stopping unwanted fruit fly species from establishing here.

The surveillance programme has operated since the 1970s and currently includes more than 7800 traps nationwide. To strengthen surveillance further, Biosecurity New Zealand plans to expand the network by more than 1100 traps during the 2026-27 high-risk season, bringing the total to around 9000 traps.

The additional traps will be focused on areas of urban growth in the upper North Island, where conditions are most suitable for many fruit fly species. New traps will be installed in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Hawke's Bay.

Additional trapping will also be introduced around Hamilton and Dunedin airports following the recent resumption of international flights from Australia.

AsureQuality field officers will be identifying new trap locations over the coming weeks. If your property is selected as a potential site, you may be contacted about hosting a trap.

If kiwifruit growers are visited by AsureQuality and have any further queries or would like any information or resources from KVH, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for guidance.

As always, if you see something suspicious – catch it or photograph it if safe to do so and report it to Biosecurity New Zealand on 0800 809 966 or KVH on 0800 665 825.