Source: Auckland Council
Controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in Auckland’s Papatoetoe and Māngere have been lifted after no further evidence of the Oriental fruit fly was found in the area.
Biosecurity New Zealand, part of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) announced the update today.
“It’s great to see that restrictions are now lifted. Thank you to our communities, residents and businesses in these areas for their support – from following the movement controls, keeping an eye out for fruit flies to safely disposing of fruit in the provided bins,” says Phil Brown Auckland Council Acting General Manager, Environmental Services.
Six-week intensive operation
The decision to end the operation follows six weeks of intensive fruit fly trapping and inspections of hundreds of kilograms of fruit.
With restrictions now lifted, the Biosecurity New Zealand signs and wheelie bins will be removed from the affected area in Papatoetoe over the next few days.
This also means that all kerbside collections, including food scraps, are back to normal.
We encourage you to take full advantage of the food scraps collection service and join thousands of Aucklanders who have already helped turn over 30,000 tonnes of food scraps into clean energy.
Here’s some summer tips to beat the heat and you can also request an additional food scraps bin by contacting us.
A quick response
Biosecurity New Zealand quickly placed legal controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in Papatoetoe and Māngere on 4 January 2025 after a single male Oriental fruit fly was identified from a national surveillance trap.
Since then, no further adult fruit flies, eggs, larvae or pupae have been found. MPI are satisfied that the Controlled Area Notice restrictions can be lifted, and response operations can be closed.
Restrictions are lifted but stay vigilant. If you think you’ve spotted an Oriental fruit fly, eggs, or larvae/maggots in your fruit, call Biosecurity New Zealand (MPI) right away at 0800 80 99 66.
MPI will continue as normal to check Biosecurity New Zealand’s 7800 fruit fly traps around the country, including some 200 traps in Papatoetoe and Māngere.