Similarly, when contacted yesterday, an MPI spokeswoman said the matter was before the courts and therefore MPI would not be making any comment.
Mycoplasma bovis was first detected in July last year on two properties owned in the Waimate district by the Van Leeuwen Dairy Group.
Months later, it was revealed that Southern Centre Dairies, owned by Dutch couple the Zeestratens, who have been dairy farming in New Zealand since 1999, was believed to be where the disease first took hold.
In March, search warrants were executed on several properties - including in Southland - relating to possible breaches of legislation.
Last month, Biosecurity New Zealand's director of response, Geoff Gwyn, said MPI was due to issue a press release in relation to the outcome of those searches.
But it found out another regulatory agency had an interest in that process and so it had been ''parked up'' until that agency did what it needed to.
Potential introduction pathways for the disease included imported live cattle, imported frozen semen, imported embryos, imported feed, imported veterinary medicines and biological products, imported used farm equipment and other imported live animals.
The latest update from MPI showed two more Canterbury farms had their IP (Infected Property) status lifted. These farms were depopulated, cleaned and disinfected.
Following this, they completed their 60-day stand-down period.
There were 35 active IPs, made up of 18 dry stock beef farms, 16 dairy farms and one lifestyle property.
As of last night, MPI had revoked a total of 240 legal notices for M. bovis (both Notices of Direction and Restricted Place Notices.
