Spraying of kiwifruit vines on hold

Leaf spot identified which could be the kiwifruit disease Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae. Photo / APN

Spraying kiwifruit vines with copper spray in hopes of controlling the vine-killing bacteria PSA has been put on hold today as growers and experts discuss the consequences of the action.

Five orchards over a 10km area in the Bay of Plenty are under biosecurity controls, three of them confirmed as having Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (PSA).

Copper spraying planned for this afternoon, has been delayed until experts and growers can be consulted.

Deputy director-general of biosecurity Barry O'Neil said even low doses of copper spray could result in defoliation, which was an unfavourable outcome.

At least 75 orchards around New Zealand are reporting possible signs of the bacteria and biosecurity officials are extending their checks for the PSA infection to key growing areas outside the Bay of Plenty.

MAF's checks include kiwifruit growing regions near Kerikeri, Nelson and Hawkes Bay.

A nationwide spread of the bacteria could not be ruled out at this stage, Mr O'Neil told Radio New Zealand.

He said no country that had found the bacteria had been able to fully eradicate it but the New Zealand industry was much closer and he was confident of a better result here.

Trading threat

Biosecurity Minister David Carter said last night the 75 orchards that had contacted officials about possible symptoms was almost double the figure reported earlier yesterday.

"We're now seeing it more widespread than we would want to see," he said.

"It looks as though we are dealing with a bigger problem than we thought."

Whether the bacteria had reached other areas would be an important factor in making a decision on how it could be eradicated.

There was also a "very real possibility" that trading partners could block kiwifruit exports unless New Zealand could prove the fruit to be disease free.

Mr Carter said a decision on how to eradicate the disease would be made by the end of the week.

MAF has enlisted the help of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to try to limit damage to export market access.

Kiwifruit exports are worth more than $1.5 billion a year.

Community reacts

The disease could devastate Te Puke, which calls itself "the kiwifruit capital of the world".

Yesterday, workers and orchardists were fearing the worst.

A grower on the road where the disease has been confirmed - and where security guards are posted at an orchard's gate - said the possible cost did not bear thinking about.

"It's scary to think what the implications might be," said the man, who did not want to be identified.

Shirley Roderick, who runs an orchard with her husband, said: "We've been here for over 30 years, so of course we're worried. We don't want to have to start again."

Her husband, Jeff, said so many people could suffer - his workers, the community and the wider economy - that they had to be positive and keep going.

"Some nights you feel all hollow and unsure about the future. But then you wake up and the fruit is growing and the sun is out," Mr Roderick said.

Most of Te Puke's money comes from kiwifruit, and shop owner Murray Howell said business would be devastated without it.

Anxiety over PSA has already slowed traffic in town.

"If the kiwifruit goes bad, there's not going to be much reason to stay," Mr Howell said.

Kiwifruit worker Lorena Veliz moved to New Zealand from Chile with her husband and daughter two years ago, hoping she could stay.

"My husband and I, we're worried about our work. Our English isn't that good and I don't know what we'd do," Ms Veliz said.

James Trevelyan runs a cool store and packhouse that employs almost 1000 people during peak season and also has a 5ha orchard.

"I own a lifestyle block with a mortgage and six goats, and that's all I have," he said.

"Maybe I will be bankrupt if the banks had a go at me."

- Additional reporting: NZPA