Vineeta Rao
Auckland, February 22, 2025
Just as South Auckland suburbs of Papatoetoe and Mangere heaved a sigh of relief over the Controlled Area Notice (CAN) being revoked after the looming threat of an oriental fruit fly infestation, it is now the turn of the North Shore.
Restrictions were announced on Friday, February 22, 2025 on the movement of fruits and vegetables between demarcated zones in Birkdale, Beach Haven and parts of Windy Ridge and Bayview after a single male oriental fruit fly was caught in traps at Birkdale.
“This is the same species of fruit fly that we responded to in Papatoetoe recently, but it is too early to say whether the two finds are linked. Our lab will do further DNA analysis of the fly over the coming days,” Biosecurity New Zealand Commissioner (North) Mike Inglis said.
Per the Ministry of Primary Industry (MPI) Advisory, two zones have been demarcated in these suburbs with the following restrictions.
Zone A Restrictions
* No fruit and vegetables (other than leafy or soil-free root vegetables and cooked, processed, preserved, dried, frozen and canned fruit) can be moved from Zone A of the controlled area.
* Compost and green waste from gardens also cannot be moved out of this zone.
* Residents of Zone A are asked to avoid composting fruit and vegetables. Use a sink waste disposal system for fruit and vegetable waste or one of the bins provided by Biosecurity New Zealand. These bins will be delivered shortly, and residents advised of their location.
Zone B Restrictions
* No fruit and vegetables grown in Zone B can be moved out of the controlled area.
* You are free to move commercially purchased fruit and vegetables (for example fruit and vegetables brought at the supermarket) out of the area.
* Homegrown produce waste and garden waste needs to be disposed of in Biosecurity New Zealand bins.
Risks to Horticulture
If this is the first time you are encountering these sorts of restrictions, you may be forgiven for thinking this is a massive overreaction over finding a single fly. However, this particular type of fruit fly is considered to be the most “destructive and widespread” of all fruit flies and can actively jeopardise New Zealand’s produce exports.
MPI says that if the fruit fly established itself in New Zealand, the country’s horticulture industry would face massive economic costs as other countries would stop accepting our exported fruits and vegetables. The pest can infect over 300 hosts, including apples, kiwifruit, citrus, and tomatoes.
Biosecurity New Zealand staff have been busy in the area, laying more traps and giving out information to households. Around 100 additional traps which specifically target oriental fruit fly are being placed within a 1,500 m area of the original find.
For scale, during operations in Papatoetoe, almost 300 traps were set. About 300 special response bins liberally laced with insecticide were also placed in the area for easy disposal of contaminated fruit and vegetables. The same will also be done on the shore but the most important precaution of all will be to contain the contamination. The Kaipatiki local board have already put up posts on social media advising residents and giving instructions.
Mr Inglis said, “These legal controls are an important precaution. Should there be any more flies out there, this will help prevent their spread out of the area. It is likely the restrictions will be in place for at least 2 weeks.”
Signs will also be put in place notifying people of the restrictions and marking the controlled area boundaries.
Inglis said that residents “may notice increased activity in the neighbourhood as we go about inspections and trapping.”
“Our field officers may ask to look at fruit trees on your property. They will always show you a form of official identification and will only enter your property with your permission. There have been 13 previous fruit fly incursions in New Zealand, which were successfully eradicated,” he said.
What can you do to help?
Follow the restrictions.
Biosecurity New Zealand has been successful in containing and eradicating this pest before and following tried and tested methods. If you think you have found this fruit fly or its maggots in fruit, please photograph it, try and capture it, and call 0800809966.
For more information, please visit the MPI website.
Vineeta Rao is an Indian Newslink Reporter based in Auckland.
