A single Oriental fruit fly was spotted in South Auckland earlier this month which prompted protective measures.
The Oriental fruit fly can affect over 300 hosts including apples and pears. An outbreak could result in production losses and produce not being accepted by other countries, the Ministry for Primary Industries website said.
A 2024 report said the Central Otago apple and pear industry, which makes up 4% of New Zealand’s apple and pear plantings, is worth $60million and a quarter of the region’s horticultural GDP contribution.
Mr Inglis said the risk presented to Central Otago was low.
The insect, which was originally from tropical climates, would not be able to survive the Central Otago winter, he said.
But it was anticipated, as the climate warmed, parts of the country too cold for certain pests, including some fruit flies, might become habitable in the future.
Despite climate change, Central Otago winters should always be a barrier to permanent fruit fly populations establishing themselves in the area, he said.
As a precaution, a national network of over 8000 surveillance traps have been set up around New Zealand, including traps set up in Alexandra, Cromwell and Queenstown.
There have been no detections of fruit flies in the South Island to date.
Should a fruit fly be detected, measures similar to those being employed in South Auckland will take effect, he said.
The measures were developed in partnership with the horticulture sector and aim to prevent the spread, as well as return New Zealand to a fruit-fly-free status.
They would involve movement controls to contain spread, traps to lure flies in the area, checks of fruit for evidence of larvae and treatment measures in the event a large-scale population is revealed, Mr Inglis said.
— Ella Jenkins
