The discovery of a Queensland fruit fly in Whangarei has the horticultural sector there on edge and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) working to ensure it is the only one.
A single male fruit fly was discovered in an insect trap in in a surveillance trap near the Town Basin in Whangarei on Tuesday.
MPI head of compliance Andrew Coleman said the fruit fly is a very invasive pest and can be hugely damaging for horticultural crops.
Control zones have been put in place to stop fresh fruit and some vegetables being moved out of the area of Whangarei where the fruit fly was found and more insect traps installed.
Mr Coleman said the ministry needs the public's help. He said the Whangarei community will start to receive pamphlets in their letterboxes about the fruit fly and receive visits from officers from AsureQuality and the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Mr Coleman said there will also be signage and disposal bins placed around the community.
New Zealand's trading partners have been informed, but Mr Coleman said as long as no other Queensland fruit flies are detected, trade should not be affected.
A trapping system set up on Thursday had found no more of the serious insect pests.
It's the fourth time a Queensland fruit fly has been detected in this country.
Growers hope fruit fly find won't disrupt exports
The national horticulture body says growers will be hoping the ministry's operation can be wrapped up without disrupting harvesting or exports in Northland.
Horticulture New Zealand president Julian Raine said that part of the country has kiwifruit, avocados and citrus which would be the biggest crops susceptible to fruit fly.
Mr Raine said it is well into the avocado picking season, and kiwifruit and citrus are not being picked yet, so it is hoped it will be cleared up before the main export season for New Zealand growers.
Mr Raine thinks a call for a halt to fruit and vegetable imports is premature, because no one knows yet how the pest got here.
But he says the spread of the Queensland fruit fly into other parts of Australia including Victoria and New South Wales is also a worry for New Zealand growers.
Mr Raine says the Queensland fruit fly is now endemic in Victoria and New South Wales and those state governments have given up trying to control the pest in those areas.
