Call for eradication of wild kiwifruit

Wild kiwifruit. Photo / Katikati Observer

Forest and Bird is calling for the eradication of wild kiwifruit vines in Bay of Plenty following an outbreak of the devastating PSA disease.

Thirteen Bay of Plenty kiwifruit orchards have been confirmed with the bacteria PSA, with 16 orchards quarantined.

Forest and Bird Kaimai Mamaku Campaign chairman Peter Maddison said wild kiwifruit vines could harbour the bacteria and should be destroyed.

"Now is an ideal opportunity to eradicate these vines and reinstate the areas as native wildlife corridors," he said.

"We recognise that the wilding kiwifruit are mainly the green variety, rather than the initially infected gold variety, but we believe the wild vines could still act as reservoirs for re-infestation of kiwifruit orchards."

Dr Maddison said other species of the kiwifruit family should also be checked for signs of PSA.

- NZPA