The biosecurity response to the discovery of a single male Oriental fruit fly in Birkdale, North Shore, has made good progress, with extra traps in place, stepped-up checks and legal controls introduced.
“Special bins have started being delivered for fruit and vegetable waste disposal and that will continue over the weekend, and a mobile laboratory to check fruit and vegetables is in place,” said Mike Inglis, Biosecurity New Zealand regional Commissioner North.
"Our team is back out today as we continue to ramp up our response efforts to ensure there are no other fruit flies around.”
There were already more than 60 Oriental fruit fly surveillance traps in the North Shore area and nearly 700 traps aimed at other fruit fly species. Over the weekend, around 100 extra Oriental fruit fly traps were placed within a 1500-metre area of the original find.
Legal controls were introduced to restrict the movement of fruit and vegetables around the location where the fruit fly was found to stop the spread of any other Oriental fruit flies that may be out there.
“We’ve been delivering information to residential letterboxes about the two zones affected by restrictions, and people can also find full information about what they need to do here. People will notice biosecurity signage up in the area and we delivered special disposal bins for fruit and vegetable waste."
Inglis added that instead of putting waste in rubbish bins to be disposed of normally, residents in the two zones had been asked to put fruit and vegetable waste into the special response bins for Biosecurity New Zealand to dispose of securely.
Every household in Zone A will have a fruit and vegetable disposal bin, and in Zone B, there will be bins placed around the edge of the zone, primarily on major transport routes and more within the Zone.
"The bins in Zone A will be cleared daily initially, then as required. There will be no need to put them out on the street as they will be serviced, re-bagged and insecticide applied in bags and inside lids where they are currently placed.”
He also thanked the local community for their positive response to the team so far.
“In the previous 13 occasions we’ve found fruit flies in New Zealand we’ve successfully eradicated them with the help of our horticulture sector partners and local communities, so it’s important everyone plays their part. At present, the restrictions will be in place for a fortnight."
