A man charged with allegedly murdering a policewoman in Nelson will appear in court today and New Orleans attacker believed to have acted alone.
A major biosecurity operation is under way in South Auckland after an Oriental fruit fly was found.
Restrictions on fruit and vegetable movement will be enforced, with increased trapping and testing.
Biosecurity NZ says if the insect was to establish itself in the country, the horticulture industry would suffer massive economic costs.
A major biosecurity operation is under way in South Auckland after an Oriental fruit fly was found in a backyard, with restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables to come into force.
Biosecurity New Zealand said a single male fly was found in a surveillance trap in Papatoetoe.
If the fruit fly established itself in New Zealand, the country’s horticulture industry would face massive economic costs, the government organisation said.
Extra field teams were in the suburb today but checks of other traps in the Papatoetoe and Māngere areas did not turn up any other fruit flies, Biosecurity New Zealand Commissioner Mike Inglis said.
An Oriental fruit fly has been found in Papatoetoe, Auckland, Biosecurity NZ says.
“However, our previous experience with the successful eradication of several different types of fruit fly is that we might find other insects, so it is important we move quickly, look for any others and eradicate them,” he said.
“We will be ramping up trapping and testing, with daily checks in a 200-metre zone from the original find and three daily testing in a second zone out to 1500m,” Inglis said.
He said the movement of fruit and vegetables in and out of the area where the fly was found would be legally controlled in the coming days.
“Instructions about these controls and the exact area affected will be issued by midday Sunday once we have completed an initial investigation,” Inglis said.
“In the meantime, we ask that people who live and work in the suburb not take any whole fresh fruit and vegetables out of your property.”
Inglis said residents of the area will notice increased activity from Biosecurity New Zealand staff.
“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.”
Concern for growers
Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Kate Scott said the fruit fly’s discovery was a concern for the country’s growers.
The Oriental fruit fly maggots can feed on 300 different fruit and vegetables. Its favourite hosts are apple, guava, mango, peach, and pear.
“While the Oriental fruit fly poses no risk to human health, its establishment in New Zealand could have severe economic consequences for the horticulture industry,” Scott said.
“It will also impact those Kiwis growing fruit and vegetables in their gardens at home.
“We remain hopeful that this is an isolated case and does not indicate an outbreak. Growers, however, will be anxiously awaiting further updates as additional traps are monitored.”
‘We need to be vigilant’: Councillor Alf Filipaina urges community to follow rules
Local councillor Alf Filipaina, of the Manukau ward, encouraged his community in Māngere and Papatoetoe to be vigilant about not moving fruit or vegetables and reporting any sightings of the insect to authorities.
“One of the key things is to make sure you know the restrictions. That’s exactly what we need to do,” Filipaina said.
“Biosecurity is the lifeline of our communities, it really is.
“We’ve just got to make sure we end up eradicating this fruit fly.
“We need to be vigilant about it, make sure you check the traps and report anything to Biosecurity New Zealand.”
Inglis said Biosecurity New Zealand has successfully eradicated fruit flies found inside the country the previous 12 times incursions were detected.
“There have been 12 incursions of different fruit fly in Auckland and Northland since 1996 and all have been successfully eradicated thanks to the work of Biosecurity New Zealand, our horticulture partners, and local communities who have stepped up to help.
“Our trapping network involves some 7878 traps set nationwide, and these are checked regularly.
