The organisation responsible for controlling the kiwifruit disease PSA says further testing of five orchards outside the Te Puke area has failed to confirm the presence of a virulent PSA strain.
Since the disease was discovered on a block near Te Puke seven months ago, 241 orchards have been infected.
Just over half have the virulent strain - PSA V - which can cause vines to die.
Late last month Kiwifruit Vine Health received advice that orchards in Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and northern Hawke's Bay had provisionally tested positive for PSA V.
Its general manager, John Burke, says it is fortunate that, since then, none of the orchards have shown signs of PSA V, and follow-up tests have proved negative.
