Tests have confirmed the virulant kiwifruit disease Psa has been found on a Kerikeri orchard.
Kiwifruit Vine Health, the industry-government biosecurity agency trying to manage the disease yesterday confirmed a Kerikeri orchard has the disease.
Psa-V is now confirmed on more than 500 orchards in New Zealand. The blue chipexport industry has around 2700 kiwifruit growers.
The disease, first discovered in Te Puke in the Bay of Plenty a year ago, has now been found on orchards in Tauranga, Katikati, Waihi, Whakatane and Opotiki and now Kerikeri.
KVH general manager John Burke said: "The spread outside the Bay of Plenty is very disappointing. Kerikeri growers have been extremely vigilant in managing their regional border since the initial outbreak last year."
Given the physical distance between the Bay of Plenty and Kerikeri, it seemed likely the spread is the result of inadvertent plant movement rather than weather, Burke said.
It was too early to say what the long-term impact could be on the industry staple crop, green Hayward, but the outlook for Hort16A (gold) vine survival "is not looking encouraging".
