New greenhouse thrips detected
Poinsettia thrips detected in an Auckland greenhouse; please lookout from them on house plants and greenhouse produced crops ... more

GM petunias
We've been working with MPI in a recall of several genetically modified (GM) petunias, and identifying others that may be in New Zealand ... more

UNWANTED - BMSB
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) is a major threat to the New Zealand economy and the public. It's high on horticulture's most unwanted list ... more

Myrtle Rust in Otorohanga
Myrtle rust has been found on two properties in the Otorohanga township. In both cases it was found on a single ramarama tree ... more

Myrtle Rust Alert!

Myrtle rust has been detected in Northland, Taranaki, south Waikato and Te Puke. MPI has instigated an incursion response.

It is a serious fungal disease that affects plants in the myrtle family, which includes pohutukawa and manuka.

Myrtle rust is readily spread by wind and can be transported on clothing, vehicles and equipment.

Plant producers and our industry partners have an essential part to play in being on the lookout for symptoms and early reporting to MPI.

MPI puts "Feijoas in the clear"

MPI’s 12/9/17 myrtle rust Stakeholder Update noted

Feijoas in the clear

"Since myrtle rust was found in New Zealand earlier this year, there has not been a single feijoa plant found with the infection. MPI has taken samples from feijoa plants in nurseries and home gardens where other plants are infected with the disease and the feijoa plants were clear.

This information, combined with Australian data showing feijoas appear to be resistant, has led to us concluding that feijoas present a low risk of spreading myrtle rust to other uninfected myrtle plants.

For this reason, there are no restrictions on the movement of feijoa plants within or out of the current Controlled Area in Taranaki. The Controlled Area Notice has been amended and a revised version is here."

Myrtle Rust in Otorohanga

8/9/17 - Myrtle rust has been found on 2 properties in the Otorohanga township – in both cases on a single ramarama tree. These finds are new positive detections of myrtle rust outside of the known established areas in Taranaki and Te Puke. MPI says these new detections do not have any connection with nurseries or other infected properties in Taranaki - MPI media statement

NZPPI Guidance

8/9/17 - As we head into spring and warmer temperatures, industry members have an important role to play in early detection of new rust infections and in helping limit its spread. Plant producers, nurseries and retailers are urged to continue surveillance, crop inspections and the use of NZPPI myrtle rust management protocols.

NZPPI Myrtle Rust Risk Management Protocols

The NZPPI Myrtle Rust Risk Management Protocols have been developed for use by plant producers, production nurseries and garden retailers.

They provide a framework of supply chain biosecurity protocols for industry members to ensure the risk of our businesses becoming infected or distributing myrtle rust is managed to the best of our ability.

By following the NZPPI protocols industry members will be meeting the requirements set out in MPI’s legal direction, and NZPPI has worked with MPI to confirm this.

They comprise:

• Nursery Management Declaration (Word | PDF) – nursery protocol signoff to accompany plant shipments (9/6/17)
• Nursery Management Protocol – plant producer and nursery procedures to mitigate nursery-based risk (18/7/17)
• Plant Transport Protocol – procedures to minimise risk of myrtle rust being spread through plant transport (9/6/17)
• Plant Transport Declaration (Word | PDF) – transporter protocol signoff to accompany plant shipments (13/9/17)
• Garden Retail & Landscaper Guidance – procedures for businesses who receive myrtaceae plants from nurseries (9/6/17)
• Plant Inspection Protocol - what to look for and how (May 2017)
• Myrtle Rust Fungicide Treatments – for the control of myrtle rust (May 2017)

Other materials

• Myrtle Rust photos
• Myrtle Rust Pest fact sheet
• Myrtle Rust Identification Guide
• NZPPI July update
• MPI/NZPPI Update on myrtle rust compensation progress - 12/9/17

Myrtle Rust Links

• Latest MPI Situation Update - Numbers, locations, species and what's happening
• North Taranaki Controlled Area
  Movement controls are in place restricting the movement of myrtle species plant material (plants, fruit, greeen waste) out of the north Taranaki region. ... read more..
  MPI email to Taranaki businesses (28/6/17)
  Map of restricted area and legal notice on this MPI webpage
  12/9/17 - Feijoa plants are an exception and may be shipped from Taranaki
• Plant transport through the Controlled Area – Plant transporters carrying myrtaceae who need to travel through the Controlled Area are permitted to do so under certain conditions, including that their load must be contained within an enclosed vehicle and they do not make deliveries.  Routes are restricted, and they are permitted to stop only for purpose of break-down, health and safety and comfort reasons.   Read Schedule 4 in the Controlled Area Notice on this MPI webpage
   
• MPI Support for Industry Response
  12 May 2017
  MPI has today thanked NZPPI for the development of the approved industry myrtle rust protocols. The protocols help manage risk associated with nursery businesses, while enabling them to continue business and lessen the impacts on the local economy ... read the joint NZPPI and MPI media release
   
• MPI's Media Releases
• MPI's webpage & myrtle rust fact sheet
• MPI guidance for beekeepers, feijoa growers, other orchardists, nursery owners, home gardeners & walkers and trampers
• NZ Government Myrtle Rust media release - 4 May 2017
• Myrtaceae taxa in NZ: Exotic and Native - Source: MPI, 12 May 2017
• Myrtaceae Genera - Wikipedia
• The threat of myrtle rust to New Zealand and how science is contributing to our preparedness - A presentation to the NZPPI Science & Innovation Summit 4 May ... prepared before Kerikeri incursion was announced
• Australian Nursery Industry Myrtle Rust Management Plan (Version 3) – 2013
• Myrtle Rust and the New Zealand Forest Industry – An examination commissioned by the Forest Owners Association of the biosecurity implications for New Zealand and the forest industry.

Myrtle rust on pohutukawa in Kerikeri

Myrtle rust on Lophomyrtus in Waitara

If you think you have seen this fungus call MPI’s Exotic Pests and Diseases hotline - 0800 80 99 66.
Take a photo - do not attempt to touch or collect samples as this may increase the spread of this disease.