Since our last update Friday 22 March, there have been no changes to the Auckland fruit fly response situation, and no further flies have been detected.

Importantly, there has not been any evidence of a breeding population found either – that means to date no eggs, larvae, or pupae have been found.

Controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables, and a baiting programme continue in Controlled Zones in Northcote. The last detection there was of a Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) on Thursday 14 March. Teams on the ground have been removing fallen fruit from backyards, inspecting compost bins, and placing bait on fruit trees to attract and kill adult flies, in particular females. The bait is made up of a protein to attract adult fruit flies, and a very low concentration of insecticide to kill the flies. The baits are toxic to fruit flies but are safe around people and animals.

KVH continues to Chair the Fruit Fly Council - a governance group made up of impacted industry sector representatives under the Government Industry Agreement (GIA) partnership - and work alongside Biosecurity New Zealand in this response. We are involved in response decision-making processes ensuring the interests of the kiwifruit industry are represented and we will keep growers updated if there are any new developments.

Kiwifruit growers should talk to their post-harvest providers if they have any questions about what the impacts to them might be due to continued movement controls or export restrictions. If you require support you can contact NZKGI or visit their website to learn more about the support network available.

Summary of finds: Single male QFF have been found in separate surveillance traps in the Auckland North Shore suburbs of Devonport (one single fly) and Northcote (six single flies over an extended period of time). Three Facialis flies have been found in Otara.

More information: Read more about fruit flies and the remaining restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables here.