The discovery of a male Queensland fruit fly in Whangarei has sparked a major biosecurity alert. Up to 50 Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) staff were in the city.

When some workers were battling the back-to-work blues after a summer holiday, biosecurity sniffer dog Zeta was tugging at the reins to get back on the job.

A world-first trial involving Air New Zealand flights aims to boost biosecurity at the border.

Auckland Airport biosecurity staff have avoided a nasty nipping after finding five live crabs in a Vietnamese passenger's luggage.

Orchardists growing gold kiwifruit may have had their hopes of bonanza returns this season dashed as they wait on confirmation that a vine-killing bacteria has arrived in NZ.

Two listed companies are the first victims of a suspected incursion in NZ of a bacterial disease which has ripped through gold kiwifruit varieties overseas, particularly in Italy.

An orchard is under quarantine after the discovery of a suspected bacterial disease that may threaten NZ's $1.5b kiwifruit industry.

New Zealand bio-security and food safety authorities moved proactively this morning to announce the discovery of a brain disease that affects sheep.