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Around 100 growers, post-harvest representatives, researchers, government partners and biosecurity professionals came together at Bay Oval last week for the 2026 KVH Biosecurity Symposium, united by a shared goal of keeping the New Zealand kiwifruit industry prepared for future biosecurity threats. Held every two years, this year's event focused on the theme Staying ahead of the invasion curve, highlighting the importance of proactive readiness, rapid response and strong collaboration across the industry and our biosecurity system. The programme featured a strong line-up of New Zealand and Australian guest experts sharing lessons from real-world incursions, emerging threats, surveillance programmes, research initiatives and response experiences. Highlights included John Kean from the Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI) and Andrew Robinson from the Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (CEBRA) in Melbourne presenting a new science-based approach to optimising biosecurity surveillance for the kiwifruit industry, designed to strengthen early detection of exotic pests and diseases. Attendees also heard from Scott Sinclair from Biosecurity New Zealand on yellow-legged hornet detection tools and surveillance operations, Leanne Erakovic from the Australian Banana Growers’ Council on the global challenge of Panama disease TR4 in bananas, Aaron Dodd from the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on their evolving approach to brown marmorated stink bug surveillance, and Dr Jon Sullivan from Lincoln University on lessons learned from 25 years of wild kiwifruit control. Research and innovation were a major focus, with Rebecca Burns outlining Zespri Innovation's approach to building biosecurity readiness across high-risk threats, generic readiness and emerging risks, while Beccy Ganley spoke to research from Better Border Biosecurity and BSI exploring how new technologies and targeted research can help strengthen New Zealand's biosecurity system. Day two saw participants take part in an interactive Fruit Fly Council workshop, testing how the horticulture sector would maintain supply chains during a fruit fly incursion. The exercise explored the impacts of movement controls and export restrictions, while identifying opportunities to further improve preparedness across the industry. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making this year's Symposium such a valuable event. It was a fantastic opportunity to share knowledge, strengthen connections across the biosecurity network, and reinforce the readiness needed to protect New Zealand's kiwifruit industry from exotic threats. A special thank you to our event sponsors, without whom we would not have been able to offer the Symposium. Thank you to Horticentre Charitable Trust; the Bioeconomy Science Institute; Zespri; NZKGI; Onside; Fruitfed Supplies; and the Port of Tauranga for the support and presence throughout the event. See images from the event here. We’ll also have a more extensive article about the Symposium in the next issue of the Kiwifruit Journal.

Exotic fruit flies are one of our industry’s biggest biosecurity threats and kiwifruit growers know better than anyone the threat they pose – as proven by the importance placed on the workshop at the recent Symposium. To help manage this threat, Biosecurity New Zealand undertakes national surveillance for exotic fruit flies. Delivered by AsureQuality for more than 30 years, the programme is designed to detect exotic fruit flies that make it into New Zealand. Detections through this programme have triggered 16 successful biosecurity responses since 1990, stopping unwanted fruit fly species from establishing here. The surveillance programme has operated since the 1970s and currently includes more than 7800 traps nationwide. To strengthen surveillance further, Biosecurity New Zealand plans to expand the network by more than 1100 traps during the 2026-27 high-risk season, bringing the total to around 9000 traps. The additional traps will be focused on areas of urban growth in the upper North Island, where conditions are most suitable for many fruit fly species. New traps will be installed in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Hawke's Bay. Additional trapping will also be introduced around Hamilton and Dunedin airports following the recent resumption of international flights from Australia. AsureQuality field officers will be identifying new trap locations over the coming weeks. If your property is selected as a potential site, you may be contacted about hosting a trap. If kiwifruit growers are visited by AsureQuality and have any further queries or would like any information or resources from KVH, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for guidance. As always, if you see something suspicious – catch it or photograph it if safe to do so and report it to Biosecurity New Zealand on 0800 809 966 or KVH on 0800 665 825.

KVH was also pleased to be part of the Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital (TMBC) Symposium yesterday, joining industry, iwi, researchers, businesses and community groups to explore how the Bay of Plenty can strengthen its position as New Zealand's biosecurity capital. The event provided an opportunity for KVH to share insights from recent kiwifruit biosecurity responses and readiness activities with peers, while highlighting the importance of collaboration across sectors to protect the region's growers, economy, and environment from harmful pests and diseases. With biosecurity risks continuing to evolve, the Symposium reinforced the key message that strong partnerships and collective action are essential and having networks across the biosecurity space in the region helps keep us abreast of any potential changes to biosecurity risk for kiwifruit growers, as well as allowing us input into wider biosecurity management activities, particularly at higher risk sites like ports and transitional facilities.

Biosecurity awareness month is a timely reminder that protecting New Zealand's kiwifruit industry starts with all of us. As a campaign partner, KVH encourages growers to stay alert, follow good biosecurity practices, and report anything unusual, because early detection remains one of our best defences against new threats. The Biosecurity Business Pledge also offers practical resources to help all businesses proactively strengthen their biosecurity practices and preparedness at the most senior level, supporting the protection of orchards, livelihoods, and the industry we all rely on. View the Pledge’s resources

A reminder our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is next Thursday. Grower members have now received their AGM packs, including voting information. Where: Mercury Baypark, Truman Lane, Mount Maunganui When: 9.00am, Thursday 20 August The NZKGI AGM will follow immediately after, and a light lunch will then be provided before the Zespri AGM at 1.00pm. View the AGM pack

Bird flu: New Zealand has had two detections of H5N1 bird flu, with no new cases since 17 July. Stay alert, avoid sick or dead birds, wash your hands and clean your gear after being outdoors, and report groups of three or more sick or dead wild birds to MPI on 0800 80 99 66. Varroa mite: Millions of bees are being moved from Western Australia to South Australia after varroa mite reduced bee numbers needed for pollination. The situation highlights the importance of strong biosecurity to protect food production.