Fruit and veg is back on the table in Auckland’s Avondale area after all restrictions on their movement were removed last weekend.Rigorous check found no further sign of the Queensland fruit fly detected a fortnight earlier.
MPI Deputy Director General, Compliance and Response, Andrew Coleman said after two weeks of trapping, fruit sampling and testing there had been no further sign of the Queensland fruit fly and New Zealand’s fruit fly free status was confirmed.
“There is no longer any need for residents in the area to be restricted in their movements,” he said.
A fortnight earlier the Ministry put in place a 1.5 km diameter controlled area around where a single male Queensland fruit fly was found in a surveillance trap. Residents were asked not to move whole fresh fruit or vegetables outside of this zone.
The move was precautionary while MPI carried out intensive checks for any further flies. Had a population been found, the controls in place would have prevented any spread of the pest fly out of the area.
“Along with the horticultural industry body Horticulture New Zealand, MPI would like to sincerely thank the wider Avondale community and the Auckland Council for the fantastic support throughout this operation,” said Mr Coleman who added while the controls were lifted, this didn’t signal the end of work in the area.
“MPI will continue with its routine fruit fly surveillance programme.”
