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As pollination season gets underway, KVH reminds growers and beekeepers that any movement of beehives across Cook Strait for use in kiwifruit orchards or nurseries requires prior KVH authorisation. The Cook Strait remains an important biosecurity barrier between the North and South Islands. Because the South Island remains free of Psa-V, controls are in place to help prevent the spread of the pathogen through pollination-related activities, including the movement of beehives. Before moving hives across Cook Strait: Contact KVH at least seven days before the proposed movement to obtain authorisation. Where hives have been used on North Island kiwifruit orchards, a minimum 10-day stand-down period is recommended at a North Island location outside kiwifruit growing regions before moving south. Ensure hives, pallets, machinery, vehicles, tools, equipment and footwear are free of kiwifruit plant material and debris and sanitised using a KVH-approved sanitiser. Contractors without a Zespri CAV must complete a Non-CAV Contractor Biosecurity Plan before entering orchards. Growers also have a role to play by confirming where pollination hives are coming from, ensuring biosecurity requirements have been met, and reporting any unusual symptoms in their orchards to KVH immediately. These requirements are part of the Biosecurity (National Kiwifruit Pathway Management Plan) Order 2022, with compliance helping protect the South Island and the wider industry from Psa-V. Non-compliance with plan rules may constitute an offence under the Biosecurity Act 1993.

A significant milestone for New Zealand’s biosecurity system was recognised last week when the yellow-legged hornet response received the Innovation Award at the Spirit of Service Awards. The awards recognise initiatives that deliver outstanding outcomes for New Zealand, and the Innovation Award acknowledges the response’s use of advanced technology, large-scale field operations and strong community partnerships. KVH is proud to be part of the response alongside Biosecurity New Zealand. The award is a testament to the collective efforts of everyone involved, including SPS Biota, UK technical experts, local communities, beekeepers, growers, iwi, industry personnel (including teams from APAC, Punchbowl and Trevelyan’s), contractors and response staff who have contributed their expertise, time and commitment throughout the programme.

Bird flu (H5N1) has now reached New Zealand, making awareness and preparedness more important than ever. Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital and Te Tira Whakamātaki are hosting a free webinar with experts from the Ministry for Primary Industries, Department of Conservation, Health New Zealand and Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Learn about the current response, risks to wildlife, animals and people, what to do if you find a sick or dead bird, and how agencies are preparing. Join the conversation next Thursday 15 October, 1.00pm – 2.00pm. Register now and receive your calendar invite

Pūkeko can sometimes become a nuisance in kiwifruit orchards, particularly when bird numbers are high. Growers have reported damage from birds entering the canopy and snipping off new shoots in spring, feeding on ripening fruit before harvest, or pulling out and damaging young plants and seedlings. Before taking any action, it's important to confirm that pūkeko are causing the damage. Pūkeko are partially protected and are valued by many New Zealanders. Control can also be challenging where orchards are located near wetlands, damp pasture, waterways, or urban areas that provide ideal habitat. If pūkeko are causing ongoing problems in your orchard, consider the following management options: Use bird-scaring techniques such as occasional bird-scare blasts, pyrotechnics, or other approved deterrents to encourage birds to move away from the orchard. Consider bird repellent products where appropriate. Always follow label instructions and any restrictions relating to timing and application rates. Population control may be possible during the game bird hunting season, provided all Fish & Game regulations and firearm safety requirements are followed. Outside the hunting season, a permit from Fish & Game is required before any control activities can occur. Netting may provide a longer-term solution where pūkeko pressure is persistent and causing significant crop losses. Growers should ensure any management actions comply with relevant wildlife, firearms, and health and safety regulations.

KVH is at post-harvest field days engaging with growers and distributing a spring flyer with advice for biosecurity risk management over the coming months. The flyer can be downloaded here and main topics covered include: kiwifruit trunk diseases and sanitisers,expansion of surveillance trapping networks,yellow-legged hornet, brown marmorated stink bug, and exotic fruit fly updates.

KVH recently attended the latest Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting for the Protecting Aotearoa from wind-dispersed pests research programme, led by the Scion group at the Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI). The programme aims to strengthen New Zealand's biosecurity system by developing tools to predict when insects and plant pathogens may arrive and spread via wind-assisted pathways. KVH is one of several industry organisations represented on the PAC, alongside members from government, research organisations, regional councils, and other primary sector groups. The PAC helps ensure the knowledge generated by the programme is translated into practical outcomes and provides guidance on research priorities, communication pathways, and end-user needs. At the recent meeting, researchers shared progress on understanding how insects and pathogens survive long-distance atmospheric transport, improving models that predict pest movement, and analysing intercepted insects to better understand where they originate. The overall aim of the programme is to develop the Aerobiological Surveillance and Prediction System (ASaP), an early warning tool designed to identify periods and locations of increased risk for wind-borne pest arrivals, helping improve surveillance of this pathway. For the kiwifruit industry, this research has the potential to improve preparedness and support more targeted surveillance for offshore pest and disease threats. As climate patterns continue to change, understanding how wind-assisted pathways influence pest movements will become increasingly important for protecting New Zealand's horticultural industries and natural environments. Visit the programme website or sign up for their biannual newsletter, Blown Away.