Tau fly_image credit NZ MPI

Image credit: NZ MPI

New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) reported the detection of a single adult Tau fly in the Auckland suburb on Manurewa on 21 January.

MPI has since set up a controlled area of 1.5km around where the Tau fly was found and has restricted movement of certain crops for the next two weeks.

The fruit fly is native to tropical regions in Asia and is a pest to horticultural corps such as pumpkins, melons, cucumbers, zucchini, beans and passionfruit.

The adult Tau fly was found in a fruit fly trap and MPI has said there is little chance of a Tau fly outbreak due to New Zealand's climate.