Seen something unusual? MAKE A REPORT
Seen something unusual? MAKE A REPORT
02/07/2026
The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is a serious threat to New Zealand’s crops if it ever establishes here. This project carried out a national baseline survey to identify the stink bug egg parasitoid species already present in New Zealand. The survey gave us a better picture of which species are present and how they might help control BMSB in the future. These insights will support efforts to eradicate or manage BMSB if it ever arrives in New Zealand. This work was funded through Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFFF). You can view the full report here.
Read more02/07/2026
KVH was proud to be part of both the Bay of Plenty and Nelson Young Grower of the Year competitions held recently, helping put competitors’ biosecurity knowledge and practical skills to the test. In Nelson, we partnered with Farmlands to deliver the biosecurity module – thank you to the Farmlands team for their support. Designed to reflect real orchard situations, the modules challenged contestants to think on their feet and demonstrate how they would respond to potential biosecurity threats. The high standard of competition was encouraging, with participants showing strong practical knowledge and a clear understanding of the role biosecurity plays in protecting not only the kiwifruit industry, but New Zealand’s wider horticultural sector. Congratulations to the Bay of Plenty biosecurity module winner, Danyon Robertson, and to Nelson module winner, Samual Lee. Congratulations also to William Kenna, Orchard and Innovation Lead at KWKiwi, who was named the Bay of Plenty Young Grower of the Year, and Amelia Marsden, Nursery Manager at Thomas Brothers Orchard in Riwaka, who claimed the Nelson title for the second consecutive year. Both will now compete against six other regional champions at the National Young Grower of the Year competition in late August, where KVH will once again be putting finalists through their paces with a biosecurity challenge. It's always encouraging to see the commitment and biosecurity awareness shown by the next generation of horticultural leaders. Events like these play an important role in developing the knowledge and skills needed to help safeguard our industries into the future. See images from the events here.
Read more02/07/2026
A reminder that nominations for a KVH grower director position are open and close at 5pm tomorrow, Friday 3 July. The position is for a three-year term on the KVH Board. Nomination forms and further information is available here. If you've been considering contributing to the governance of our industry's biosecurity programme, now is the time to put your name forward.
Read more02/07/2026
New Zealand is well prepared to respond if bird flu reaches our shores, but it is important that everyone takes steps now to be ready. One of the most noticeable signs of bird flu is the swift death of multiple birds in a group. If you see three or more sick or dead wild birds in a group, report it immediately to the Biosecurity New Zealand hotline on 0800 80 99 66. A specialist biosecurity investigator will assess the information and advise you further. Don’t handle or move the birds. Provide the 0800 number with as much information as you can, including precise location information; photographs and videos of sick and dead birds; how many are sick or freshly dead; and the total number of birds present. If you own birds – including chickens, ducks, show birds or pets – you can take steps now to protect them with good biosecurity and hygiene practices. Full advice for bird owners is available on the dedicated bird flu website here.
Read more02/07/2026
There’s just one month until the KVH Biosecurity Symposium, taking place Wednesday 5 – Thursday 6 August at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui. If you haven’t secured your place yet, now’s the time. This year’s programme brings together leading biosecurity thinkers and doers from New Zealand and Australia to explore the threats, opportunities and innovations shaping biosecurity now and into the future, helping ensure we stay ahead of the invasion curve. With real-world response experiences, practical insights, and plenty of opportunities to connect with others passionate about protecting our industry, it promises to be two valuable days. To make it all even more worthwhile, growers who register and attend on the day, go in the draw to win one of three fantastic prizes: a biosecurity-themed cooler bag full of on-orchard biosecurity resources, tasty treats, and a $100 gift voucher. Spaces are filling quickly, so don’t miss your chance to be part of the conversation and help ensure the kiwifruit industry stays one step ahead of the next biosecurity threat. Register now and view the full programme on the KVH website.
Read more02/07/2026
Four new research projects have been launched to support efforts to eradicate the yellow-legged hornet from New Zealand. The work will be led by scientists at the Bioeconomy Science Institute and includes modelling to identify areas in Auckland most at risk of ongoing hornet presence, helping focus surveillance and response activities. The research comes as the response continues to make encouraging progress, with 77 queens and 132 nests removed since the pest was first detected on Auckland’s North Shore last year and no confirmed sightings since early April. However, ongoing surveillance remains critical to ensure any surviving queens are detected. Other projects will assess the potential impacts of the hornet beyond urban areas, improve awareness among Māori communities, and develop a readiness package for the honey and pollination sectors should long-term management ever be required. For kiwifruit growers, the message remains the same: stay alert and continue reporting any suspected yellow-legged hornets or nests. Every report helps protect New Zealand’s pollinators, and horticulture industries. See more about the Biosecurity New Zealand-led response and KVH’s ongoing input on behalf of the kiwifruit industry.
Read more02/07/2026
Thank you to everyone who has joined us at the grower meetings held so far in Pukekohe, Waikato, and Te Puke to discuss KVH’s proposed biosecurity levy increase. We’ve appreciated the thoughtful questions, feedback and discussion shared to date. The proposal is for a 0.2c increase to the biosecurity levy, taking it from 0.8c to 1c per tray from the 2027/28 financial year. The Pathway Management Plan levy will remain unchanged at 0.6c per tray. Biosecurity risk continues to grow and at the same time, the cost of maintaining readiness and responding effectively has increased. The industry’s obligations under the Government Industry Agreement for Biosecurity (GIA) have been clearly demonstrated with five biosecurity responses in the last two years. Levy rates, however, have remained steady for several seasons and with recent response costs, that means the real level of protection through sufficient reserves is slowly eroding. To learn more, some of the resources we have available include a podcast with KVH Chief Executive Leanne Stewart and a one page fact sheet. There are plenty of opportunities to provide feedback and have your questions answered at further upcoming regional meetings – you can see the full schedule here. We encourage all growers to attend a session, hear directly from KVH, and join the conversation about what this proposal means for ongoing biosecurity protection of our industry. Your feedback is an important part of the consultation process. We encourage you to review the proposal information, ask questions, and share your views that will directly shape what is put forward for voting at the AGM.
Read more17/06/2026
Pick up one of KVH’s new luggage tags and take biosecurity on the road with you. Durable, eye-catching, and proudly representing our industry, they’re an effortless way to help spread the message wherever your travels take you. Perfect for suitcases, backpacks, road kits, and even laptop bags, grab yours at upcoming KVH events – while stocks last!
Read more17/06/2026
Heading into the end of harvest, growers are reminded that unpicked kiwifruit should be removed from vines by 1 July to help limit wild kiwifruit plants establishing in nearby areas, especially around native bush, or forestry. Fruit left on vines to ripen over the winter months provides a food source for birds (such as the wax-eye/tauhou) that then spread seed into the wild which readily germinates in New Zealand’s environment. Unpicked fruit needs to be dropped to the ground and mulched to prevent this from happening.
Read more17/06/2026
The KVH Board is calling for nominations for a grower director for a term of three years. Grower members will be asked to vote for their preferred nominees, and the successful candidates will be announced following this year’s annual meeting. Nominations close Friday 3 July and the AGM takes place at 9am, Thursday 20 August, at Mercury Baypark.
Read more17/06/2026
We had a busy week at the annual Mystery Creek Fieldays. Thank you for coming by and talking with us, it was great to see such interest in biosecurity – particularly the hornets in resin we had on show. The lunchtime presentations were particularly well attended, and during our talk we discussed ongoing biosecurity protection though our levy proposal – you can read more about that in full detail here. If you’d like more of the pest ID resources we had at the event, please get in touch and we’ll send you copies.
Read more17/06/2026
KVH is proposing a small increase to the biosecurity levy to ensure we can continue protecting your orchard and the wider kiwifruit industry from exotic pests and diseases. Levy rates have remained stable for several seasons, while the cost of maintaining strong biosecurity readiness and response has increased, clearly demonstrated with five biosecurity responses in the last two years. The proposed change is about maintaining the level of protection growers rely on today. The proposed biosecurity levy increase is 0.2c, bringing the levy for the 2027-28 financial year to 1c per tray (the Pathway Management Plan levy will remain unchanged at 0.6c per tray). Even with the increase, the impact at an individual grower level is expected to remain small, while collectively it ensures we can respond quickly and effectively to threats. A fruit fly detection in Te Puke could cost up to $700 million in lost market access - making robust biosecurity critical. You’ll find opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback ahead of the AGM on our dedicated web page, with full details of the proposal, including what your levy delivers, why the change is needed, and why continued biosecurity protection is important. KVH will also be out in the regions over the coming weeks to talk through the proposal and answer questions - we encourage you to come along to the presentations, hosted by Chief Executive Leanne Stewart and look forward to seeing you to discuss the proposal. Look out for an email from KVH too, with reminder details of the meeting nearest to you. The feedback you provide will directly shape what is put forward for voting at the AGM and we look forward to discussing it with you.
Read moreThe internet offers the chance to collect information about site users. This information can be personally identifiable information or aggregated information. This Privacy Policy tells you what information we collect, what we do with it and your rights to correct or change it.
At Kiwifruit Vine Health (KVH), we are committed to protecting your privacy. We firmly believe that electronic security and privacy are necessary for the continued success of the Internet. In support of this, we only use the personal information that you provide to create a more personalised and entertaining experience for you, in accordance with the terms outlined below.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner provides further details of the New Zealand Privacy Act and how it protects personal information in New Zealand.
What information do we collect?
We collect personally identifiable information. Providing this information will always be optional for you. However, some services may not be available to you if you chose not to provide it.
From time to time, we may run contests or other promotions. If you participate, we may request your name, mailing address, email address and other information in order to administer the promotion. When you submit a request, review or comment to our customer service department, we may ask you for your email address.
We also collect aggregated data. This information is generated by our systems as they track traffic through our sites. This information does not identify you personally and is not linked to the personally identifiable information that you may have provided.
Who do we share this information with?
We will not share the information that we collect with any third parties. The information may be hosted with a service provider. Our agreements with them protect the information that we collect from any use by them that we have not authorised.
The aggregated data (not the personally identifiable information) may be shared with third parties such as advertisers or business partners.
How do we use the information?
When you register, complete a form or participate in any contest or promotion on our website, we will use the information you provided to us to send you email or regular mail from us regarding products, services or other contests and promotions that we think may be of interest to you.
We may use the data to verify your identity if you need help with a forgotten password, or you are having logon difficulties with any of our site services.
From time to time we may aggregate your information analyse trends, preferences, and demographics. We may use the information for other purposes with your prior permission.
How do we use "cookies"?
"Cookies" are small pieces of information stored by your browser on your computer's hard drive. Cookies do not contain personally identifying information. It does provide details of your IP address, the computer platform that you use (eg Mac or Windows), the browser that you use (eg Microsoft Explorer or Netscape) and what domain you are accessing our sites from. With this information we can do the following:
1. Track traffic patterns to our site.
2. Ensure that the most relevant content is being shown.
3. Allow you to enter certain site member services without having to log in each time you visit.
Most web browsers are set up to accept cookies; you can usually change your browser settings to refuse cookies. You will still be able to visit our sites with cookies disabled.
What about our advertisers and business partners?
This Privacy Policy only relates to our site. You should be aware that we are not responsible for the practices of our advertisers or business partners. Our site may contain links to other sites. You should check their privacy policies before providing personally identifiable information to them or any other third party.
Opting in and opting out
You will always have the option to opt in to certain services and to opt out of those services at any stage. This means you may change your mind at any stage about participating in any of our member services.
Can we change this policy?
In order to reflect the fact that our business is growing constantly, we reserve the right to change this policy at any time.
Your right to access your information The New Zealand Privacy Act of 1993 gives you the right to access and correct this information.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site, or your dealings with KVH, you can contact us.
© 2011 Kiwifruit Vine Health ®. All Rights Reserved.
Kiwifruit Vine Health ®, Kiwifruit Vine Health ® logo, and other marks and logos are the intellectual property of Kiwifruit Vine Health ®
KVH investigates reports of unusual symptoms to identify and manage any biosecurity risks.
02 Jul 2026
The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is a serious threat to New Zealand’s crops if it ever establishes here. This project carried out a national baseline survey to identify the stink bug egg parasitoid species already present in New Zealand. The survey gave us a better picture of which species are present and how they might help control BMSB in the future. These insights will support efforts to eradicate or manage BMSB if it ever arrives in New Zealand. This work was funded through Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFFF). You can view the full report here.
Read more02 Jul 2026
KVH was proud to be part of both the Bay of Plenty and Nelson Young Grower of the Year competitions held recently, helping put competitors’ biosecurity knowledge and practical skills to the test. In Nelson, we partnered with Farmlands to deliver the biosecurity module – thank you to the Farmlands team for their support. Designed to reflect real orchard situations, the modules challenged contestants to think on their feet and demonstrate how they would respond to potential biosecurity threats. The high standard of competition was encouraging, with participants showing strong practical knowledge and a clear understanding of the role biosecurity plays in protecting not only the kiwifruit industry, but New Zealand’s wider horticultural sector. Congratulations to the Bay of Plenty biosecurity module winner, Danyon Robertson, and to Nelson module winner, Samual Lee. Congratulations also to William Kenna, Orchard and Innovation Lead at KWKiwi, who was named the Bay of Plenty Young Grower of the Year, and Amelia Marsden, Nursery Manager at Thomas Brothers Orchard in Riwaka, who claimed the Nelson title for the second consecutive year. Both will now compete against six other regional champions at the National Young Grower of the Year competition in late August, where KVH will once again be putting finalists through their paces with a biosecurity challenge. It's always encouraging to see the commitment and biosecurity awareness shown by the next generation of horticultural leaders. Events like these play an important role in developing the knowledge and skills needed to help safeguard our industries into the future. See images from the events here.
Read more02 Jul 2026
A reminder that nominations for a KVH grower director position are open and close at 5pm tomorrow, Friday 3 July. The position is for a three-year term on the KVH Board. Nomination forms and further information is available here. If you've been considering contributing to the governance of our industry's biosecurity programme, now is the time to put your name forward.
Read more