Market falls victim to fly

MAF staff were at Wolverston St. Photo / Jason Dorday

One of Auckland's most loved markets will be under lock-down today in an attempt to contain the potential outbreak of an Australian pest.

The Avondale Sunday Market is on the edge of the 1.5km contamination zone that has been set up to contain the Queensland fruit fly.

Produce cannot be taken out of the area and stall holders cannot take home excess stock - even if it originated from another part of the city.

Thirty officials will be at the market today to raise awareness of the restrictions.

The controls will apply next week and possibly continue.

Ministry for Primary Industries adviser Natalie Quirke said just one Queensland fruit fly had been found - a male discovered in a trap on May 8.

"There is no guarantee there will be more than one fly," said Quirke.

"Since 2006, the ministry has intercepted species of fruit fly 53 times at the border, preventing a population from establishing here. Additionally, the Queensland fruit fly has been detected twice before in New Zealand - in Northland in 1995 and in Auckland in 1996.

"In both cases increased surveillance found no further sign of Queensland fruit fly and there were no breeding populations present."

Yesterday biosecurity teams were checking traps and talking to residents in Zone A, which covered a 200m circle around Wolverton St.

Residents were asked not to take fruit or vegetables off their property.

Seventy other traps had been set up in the neighbourhood.

Samples of fruit from trees in 1.5km Zone B had also been taken for examination.

Horticulture NZ president Andrew Fenton said it was an "anxious time" for all growers.

Supermarkets within Zone B had signs up asking people not to buy produce unless they lived within the MAF boundary.