UPDATED: 12 April 2019, 2.25pm
Controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in the Auckland North Shore suburb of Northcote have been lifted, with no further Queensland fruit flies having been detected.
The decision follows weeks of intensive trapping and inspections of hundreds of kilograms of fruit.
The last Queensland fruit fly detection in Northcote was on 14 March, and led to an increase in the on-the-ground operational response.
Biosecurity New Zealand teams removed fallen fruit from backyards, inspected compost bins, and placed bait on fruit trees to attract and kill adult flies, in particular females.
"With no further finds, we are confident that there are no breeding populations of Queensland fruit fly in the Northcote area, and because of that, the Controlled Area Notices can be lifted today, "says head of Biosecurity New Zealand Roger Smith.
"All operational activities, including baiting, have been completed; however, as a precautionary measure, we will be keeping in place an enhanced network of fruit fly traps for an extended period. If fruit flies are present, these traps will detect them."
The Biosecurity New Zealand signage and wheelie bins will be removed from Northcote over the next few days.
The lifting of legal controls follows similar moves on 22 March in Devonport (Queensland fruit fly) and in Ōtara (facialis fruit fly), after no further fruit flies were found in those areas.
Biosecurity New Zealand and the country's horticultural industries would like to sincerely thank the residents and businesses in all of the affected suburbs.
"Residents in the affected areas of Northcote, Devonport, and Ōtara have been incredibly supportive and patient with not only the movement restrictions but also the regular checking of traps on fruiting plants in their gardens and we're extremely grateful for the support," says Mr Smith.
