There were a few fruit flies intercepted during October, none of which were our highest-risk Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF).

One interception was of Oriental Fruit Fly larvae on jujubes (a type of red date) at an airport, and another was of Lesser Pumpkin Fly larvae on cucumber, also at an airport. Larvae was also found in a supermarket-purchased mandarin and investigated.

You can read more in the latest monthly KVH fruit fly risk update, which includes data reported by Biosecurity New Zealand and information about what’s happening in other countries to manage the threat posed by fruit flies.

KVH has also developed a helpful new guide for growers, detailing the likely sequence of events if a fruit fly response was to occur in a kiwifruit growing region, to allow for business continuity planning at orchard level. The guide has been added to the fruit fly section of the KVH website and can be downloaded here. Please contact us if you would like a copy printed and sent to you. 

Remember: the high-risk period for fruit flies runs through the summer months. Be vigilant, keep watch, and if you hear of someone that has accidently bought fruit or vegetables into New Zealand as part of their Christmas travels make sure it is reported and then appropriately destroyed (bagged and put in the rubbish is the best way, not composted).

KVH is looking at a new regulation framework to better manage biosecurity risk to the kiwifruit industry.

Instead of focusing on a single pest, like Psa, the proposed Plan focuses on protection against the full range of biosecurity threats to our industry and will replace the current Psa-V NPMP as it will retain the important elements needed for Psa protection (e.g. controlling movements of high-risk pathways to the South Island) but also provide much wider benefits.

A one-page summary can be found here. Feedback about the proposed Plan can be provided to KVH by email at info@kvh.org.nz or by phone at 0800 665 825.

More information, including a detailed consultation paper and submission form are available here. 

If you missed out on the Kiwifruit Biosecurity Grower Day and want to watch the presenters in action, you can now view videos from the event on the KVH YouTube channel.

More than 80 people attended the day, covering readiness activities; the impacts of the soil-borne disease Ceratocystis fimbriata in Brazil; latest BMSB and Spotted Lanternfly research; and the new iteration of KVH’s ‘most unwanted’ list of pest and disease threats.

Also, look out for more information and images from the day, as well other events during the regional ‘Spotlight on Biosecurity’ week in your next Kiwifruit Journal.

The in-flight biosecurity video, reminding travellers about the importance of protecting our country from unwanted pests and diseases, will now be screened on all international Air New Zealand flights.

Launched earlier in the year, airlines with screen capacity committed to play the video to arriving passengers. KVH has been part of direct discussions with Air New Zealand about their current capacity and is pleased that this has resulted in commitment from the airline to have the video playing on every flight (available in a wide range of languages) within the next month.

All visitors to the country and kiwis returning home can help protect New Zealand from harmful pests and diseases. The video provides a clear message about what everyone’s responsibilities are when arriving here. The simple lesson is, if you're unsure about an item you’ve got – declare it.

There are two versions of the video – one spoken in English and one for Chinese airlines spoken in Mandarin. The English version has been translated/sub-titled into 12 different languages, including Hindi, Malay, Arabic, Korean and French. It has also been translated into Bilsama, a national language in Vanuatu spoken by many seasonal workers.

Watch the video here.

The KVH office will be closed from 5.00pm on Friday 20 December 2019 and will reopen at 8.30am on Monday 6 January 2020. If any urgent issues arise during this period, please contact Chief Executive Stu Hutchings on 0274 787 901.

Since the start of the high-risk season in September, there have been 15 live Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) finds.

Over the last few weeks there were 10 of the unwanted bugs found at the border and post-border (in things like online shopping packages as we mentioned in the last Bulletin). All were reported and investigated, with no further sign of any insects.

More detail can be read in the latest monthly KVH BMSB risk update, which includes data reported by Biosecurity New Zealand and information about activities involving KVH to make sure that everything possible is being done to prepare for and respond to this unwanted pest.

These detections are a stark reminder of how real the BMSB risk is to our kiwifruit industry – remember to be on the lookout and report anything unusual. Information and videos about BMSB are available on the KVH website.

With the upcoming Christmas holiday period, the last date for Psa samples arriving in the lab at Hills will be Friday 13 December 2019. Psa testing will resume on Monday 6 January 2020.

Only KVH pre-arranged Psa testing will be accepted between these dates. Please contact Karyn Lowry on 027 227 1157 if urgent Psa testing is required between 13 December and 6 January. Photos of symptoms will be required. We anticipate these will only be from areas currently free of Psa (i.e. the South Island).