A fruit fly incursion in key regions growing fruit and vegetables would cost New Zealand thousands of jobs and millions of dollars, says a study.
An incursion such as the Mediterranean fruit fly incident in Auckland in 1996 - which meant some nations such as China banned NewZealand fruit for a year - would cost the Bay of Plenty $820 million in lost product and 3430 jobs, Hawkes Bay $390 million and 3080 jobs, and Nelson $265 million and 1945 jobs.
Horticulture New Zealand, which commissioned the study, said various strains of fruit fly, including the "medfly", caused extensive damage worldwide to horticultural crops, and that was one reason introduction of the pests could cause many trading partners to suspend imports from New Zealand.
The Queensland fruit fly would be even more damaging than medfly because Australia is close and the number of passengers travelling across the Tasman is high.
The study assumed an incursion hitting in the heart of a growing region, affecting transportation in and out of the regions to other parts of the country and overseas.
"This study highlights the importance of all New Zealanders remaining extremely vigilant about imported pests," HortNZ chief executive Peter Silcock says.
Fruit fly were most likely to arrive in fruit shipments, or with plane passengers bringing in infected fruit.
