A fruit fly controlled area has been set up in Papatoetoe, South Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Maia Ingoe
The search for oriental fruit flies is continuing in south Auckland after one was found in a Papatoetoe surveillance trap on Friday.
The pest's maggots are capable of feeding on more than 300 different fruit and vegetable crops.
The Ministry for Primary Industries said no new flies have been found.
One hundred and five surveillance traps in addition to 187 existing traps have been set up in the Papatoetoe Mangere area to catch any sightings of the insect which could jeopardise New Zealand's produce exports.
Biosecurity NZ said its staff were on the ground checking traps and collecting disposal bins which residents were being asked to put fruit and vegetable waste into.
Restrictions have been placed on two zones, within a 200-metre (Zone A) and 1.5-kilometre (Zone B) radius from the location where the insect was found on Gray Avenue.
In zone A, no fresh fruit or vegetables can be moved outside, regardless of whether they were bought or grown.
In zone B, which covers over 5000 households, all locally grown fruit and vegetables cannot be moved outside the area.
