A single fruit fly has been discovered in the Auckland suburb of Grey Lynn, leaving the surrounding area in a fruit and vegetable lockdown.
The fly was found in a surveillance trap on Monday and restrictions have been put on the movement of fruit and some vegetables within a 1.5km radius of where the fly had been found had been implemented.
Ministry of Primary Industries chief operations officer Andrew Coleman said this did not mean there was an outbreak.
"The Queensland fruit fly has been detected five times before in northern New Zealand - in Whangarei and in Auckland.
"In all cases MPI carried out thorough surveillance and no further flies were found."
The ministry has called an emergency press conference for 3.30pm. A media spokeswoman said more information would be available at the press conference.
Field teams were setting additional traps to determine if other flies were present in the area.
A restricted fruit and vegetable area is in place, and includes parts of Grey Lynn, Western Springs, Mt Albert, Ponsonby and Kingsland.
A ban on the movement of whole fresh fruit and vegetables except for leafy and root vegetables was being enforced, which would be in place for "at least a couple of weeks".
Fruit fly scares have become more common in recent years, especially in the warmer climes of Auckland and Northland.
In 2012 a Queensland fruit fly was discovered in a surveillance trap, the first time any species of fruit fly had been found in New Zealand since the discovery of a Mediterranean fruit fly back in 1996. Last year a Queensland fruit fly was found near Whangarei, sending the Far North into a horticulture lockdown.
A second fly was found in the same area a few months later.
Following the finds MPI announced yachts arriving in Northland from overseas would face greater biosecurity scrutiny.
A breeding population of the pest could have catastrophic results for the country's horticultural industry if they became established.
MPI operates about 7500 traps for the insect throughout New Zealand, concentrated in populated areas and areas known for previous fruit fly sightings.
In May 2012 a single male Queensland fruit fly was found in a surveillance trap in Avondale, Auckland.
Over two weeks the ministry put up a 1.5 kilometre cordon around the area with a blockade on moving whole fresh fruit or vegetables outside the zone.
Checks showed no further sign of the insect.
Source: Stuff.co.nz and ONE News
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