Biosecurity New Zealand has lifted controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in the Auckland suburb of Mt Roskill after finding no further evidence of Queensland fruit fly found in the area.
Biosecurity New Zealand commissioner north, Mike Inglis said the decision to end the operation followed six weeks of intensive fruit fly trapping and the inspection of more than 230 kilograms of fruit.Â
Mr Inglis thanked residents and businesses in the affected area for their support of the response.
“It wouldn’t have been possible to get to this point without the support of the local community. Every person who has kept an eye out for fruit flies, complied with movement controls, and safely disposed of their fruit waste, has played an important role in protecting our horticultural sector,” he said.
“We are satisfied that with no further detections, the Controlled Area Notice restrictions can be lifted, and response operations closed.”
Biosecurity wheelie bins that have dotted the neighbourhood will now be removed and road signs will be dismantled.
While response operations are ending, Biosecurity New Zealand’s routine nationwide surveillance continues, with a system of nearly 8,000 fruit fly traps spread across the country. More than 4,600 of these are in the Auckland area.
“The surveillance traps target 3 exotic fruit fly species of concern: the Queensland fruit fly, Mediterranean fruit fly and Oriental fruit fly. This successful response is a great example of how surveillance traps help alert us to the presence of unwelcome pests and enable us to stamp them out quickly,” says Mr Inglis.
Biosecurity New Zealand staff will be out in the community today handing out flyers about the response closure and personally thanking residents and business owners for their contribution to the effort.
“I’d also like to acknowledge the good work of our people and our partners across the horticulture sector. By working together, and responding quickly, we have managed this situation well,” Mr Inglis says.
