Legal controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in Papatoetoe will remain in place for the next few weeks as part of the response to the discovery of a single male Oriental fruit fly earlier this month.

Sector groups, including KVH staff and industry personnel from Punchbowl and APAC, have been providing support for heightened operational activities, which are continuing a little longer as a precautionary approach.

It’s anticipated the restrictions will remain in place until mid-February. This is vital to success in keeping fruit fly out of New Zealand and protecting kiwifruit growers, and horticultural exports. It also ensures we can be confident there is no breeding population – this timeframe is based on scientific advice about the life cycle of the Oriental fruit fly.

To date, no other Oriental fruit flies have been found.

Fruit fly traps will continue to be regularly checked, and specialist staff in the mobile field laboratory will cut up and inspect fruit and vegetables collected in the area for any signs of larvae. So far more than 200kg of produce has been examined.

There is no change to the current movement rules that are in place. The A and B Zone areas in Papatoetoe will remain the same and the instructions on the disposal of produce waste remain unchanged.

Significant response updates will continue to be posted on the KVH website as they occur.

Useful resources

• Biosecurity New Zealand website for detailed response maps, information, and resources, in many languages.
• KVH Oriental fruit fly fact sheet.
• KVH Oriental fruit fly identification guide.