The kiwifruit industry is seeking assurances that the Ministry for Primary Industries is doing everything it can to lower the chances of pests and disease entering New Zealand.

Allan Dawson, managing director of Katikati post-harvest company Aongatete, says the discovery of Queensland Fruit Flies in Auckland is of considerable concern to the industry.

The discovery of Queensland Fruit Fly in Auckland has put the kiwifruit industry on edge ahead of the main season.

'I don't pretend to understand all that is involved in biosecurity at our borders,” says Allan, 'but we have to have dialogue to find out what else can be done to stop pests and disease arriving.

'This is not just about the kiwifruit industry. The Queensland Fruit Fly is a bad one which affects many crops and we don't want it here.”

Allan says the penalties for bringing in fruit and vegetables undeclared across the borders don't appear to be tough enough.

'We have to beef up our biosecurity measures,” he adds. 'The kiwifruit industry is still getting over Psa and we don't want another issue.”

Michael Franks, CEO of Seeka Kiwifruit Industries, says like others in the industry the company is watching developments in Grey Lynn very closely.

He says: 'MPI does seem to have responded well and professionally and it seems like they are over the top of it with the discovery of adults, 39 larvae and one pupa. No one knows how they got here but that will become clear later.”

Michael says he is happy with the way in which MPI is keeping the kiwifruit industry informed and if asked, Seeka will send staff to help with the Auckland operation.

On its website, MPI says it expects to continue to find eggs, larvae, pupae and adult fruit flies over the coming days.

The website reads: 'Finding further flies in the vicinity is expected. This is what our operation is all about.

'The programme is set up to catch fruit flies and keep on trapping any that are out there, until we catch no more and can confirm the population is eradicated.”

A Zespri spokesperson says the exporter is also comfortable with MPI's response.

'At this stage, this is a limited, small and isolated population of Queensland Fruit Fly in Auckland and we are comfortable that the response to date has been appropriate,” they say.

'As an industry, we are obviously concerned about the situation and our focus is on ensuring risks to the kiwifruit industry are being managed.

'Zespri and the industry are working to confirm possible implications for the 2015 harvest for growers and postharvest near the affected area. We are monitoring developments closely and, as the situation stands, it is business as usual for Zespri.”

While the harvest hasn't stared yet, if the fruit fly situation in Auckland is not resolved soon, it could pose logistical issues for some kiwifruit post-harvest companies.

Allan Dawson says Aongatete does not take fruit from north of Auckland but some companies do and there may be movement controls around transporting through Auckland to the Port of Tauranga.

Aongatete is part of the KiwiNet response team and has staff trained and able to join the biosecurity operation in Auckland if required. 'At this time of year, before the harvest starts, we do have staff available,” adds Allan.