Blueberries Could Be NZ's Next $150m Horticultural Export
Blueberries have the potential to become a major horticultural export, earning up to $150 million within the next three to five years.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has thanked the Whangarei people for their cooperation over the last two weeks in responding to the find of a single male Queensland fruit fly.
"It's very pleasing that no other fruit fly has been found and that this appears to be a solitary insect," he says. "This detection is a very rare event and shows we have a high performing biosecurity system."
Controls put in place by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) restricting the movement of fruit and some vegetables have now been lifted.
"Agencies involved in the response have done an excellent job of communicating with local people and searching carefully for any signs of further fruit flies. This has involved extra trapping and fruit collection through the temporary laboratory," he says. "As with any major operation, MPI will look back and consider any learnings that could further enhance our systems."
MPI deputy director general, compliance and response, Andrew Coleman, says this marks the two weeks of trapping, fruit sampling and testing for the presence of the Queensland fruit fly is completed.
"We have received our final results from trapping and fruit examination and our rigorous checks found no further sign of the fruit fly in the Whangarei area. New Zealand's fruit fly-free status remains intact, as it has throughout this response. There is no longer any need for residents in the area to be restricted in their movements of produce."
A fortnight ago 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 in the suburb of Parihaka. Residents were asked not to move whole fresh fruit or vegetables outside of this zone, which took in Parihaka, Riverside and parts of central Whangarei.
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.
Coleman says while the controls are lifted, this does not signal the end of work in the area.
"MPI will continue with its routine fruit fly surveillance programme, with an additional 33 traps left in high-risk locations such as near landfills and industrial areas."
Should local residents find anything of concern, particularly insects or larvae in fruit, they should contact MPI's Pests and Diseases Hotline – 0800 80 99 66.
