Queensland fruit fly detection in Mt Roskill, Auckland

What's the situation?

The single male Queensland fruit fly was found in a surveillance trap in Mt Roskill, Auckland on 7 January 2026. Biosecurity New Zealand has responded swiftly, ramping up trapping and inspection.

Field crews are setting additional fruit fly lure traps to determine if other flies are present in the area. A significant number of additional traps are being placed within a 1,500-metre area of the original find.

A Controlled Area Notice is in place, restricting the movement of fruit and vegetables in the area.

The Controlled Area Notice imposes restrictions

The Auckland suburb of Mt Roskill is under a Controlled Area Notice (CAN), effective from 8 January 2026. This restricts the movement of certain fruits and vegetables out of the controlled area to help prevent the spread of fruit flies, if there are more out there.

These legal controls are an important precaution while we investigate whether there are further fruit flies in the area. Should there be any more flies, this will help prevent their spread.

This area is divided into two zones, A and B. Each zone has different restrictions.

Zone A is a 200 metre zone, including 262 properties
Zone B covers a 1,500-metre area, including 8,300 properties.

Signs will be put in place notifying people of the restrictions and marking the controlled area boundaries.

Use our map to check if you are in the controlled area and which zone applies to you.

Controlled Area Notice (CAN) map [PDF, 6.5 MB]

If you live in Zone A

No whole fruit and vegetables (other than leafy or soil-free root vegetables and cooked, processed, preserved, dried, frozen, and canned fruit) can be moved from Zone A of the controlled area.
Compost and green waste from gardens also cannot be moved out of this zone.
Residents in Zone A are asked to avoid composting fruit and vegetables. Separate fruit and vegetable waste from the rest of your household rubbish and dispose of it using a sink waste disposal unit if you have one or put it in the bins to be provided by Biosecurity New Zealand. Bins will be delivered shortly, and residents advised of their location. Your general rubbish can go out with your normal rubbish collection.
Also leave any homegrown fruit or vegetables that have fallen from trees or plants (windfall) on the ground in your garden. Biosecurity New Zealand inspectors may collect this material to check it for the presence of fruit fly. Waste from homegrown fruit and vegetables that have already been chopped up and are free of any bugs can be disposed of in the Biosecurity New Zealand bin. If you find eggs or larvae in homegrown produce, tie all the fruit or vegetable material inside a plastic bag and call Biosecurity New Zealand on 0800 809 966.

If you live in Zone B

No fruit and vegetables grown in Zone B can be moved out of the controlled area. You are free to move commercially purchased fruit and vegetables (like fruit and vegetables bought at the supermarket) out of the area.
Homegrown produce waste and garden waste needs to be disposed of in Biosecurity New Zealand bins.

If in doubt, don't take it out.

Controlled Area Notice [PDF, 912 KB]

About the Queensland fruit fly

In its native home, the Queensland fruit fly costs growers hundreds of millions of dollars a year in damage and pest control.

It has spread from Queensland to other parts of Australia, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and the Pitcairn Islands.

The adult fly lays its eggs in fruit. When the maggots hatch, they eat the fruit, causing it to rot. The maggots eat over 200 different types of fruit and vegetables. Their favourites are guava, stonefruit, tomatoes, and mango.