The virulent strain of the kiwifruit vine disease PSA has spread beyond the area in the Bay of Plenty where the disease was thought to have been confined until now.
The disease management company, Kiwifruit Vine Health, has confirmed that PSA V symptoms have been found on vines in an orchard in the Waihi area in the north-western Bay of Plenty.
KVH's general manager, John Burke says that's a major leap outside the priority zone centred on the Te Puke area, where the disease was discovered last year.
Mr Burke says containment measures are being put around the orchard and the tests are being reconfirmed.
He says the outbreak is unusual because it has been found on green variety kiwifruit vines, rather than the gold kiwifruit vines that have mostly been infected so far.
Mr Burke says the orchard is isolated and there are no clues yet as to how PSA reached it.
PSA V is being confirmed on about 20 new kiwifruit orchards a week as symptoms start to appear on vines coming out of dormancy.
