Continued Apple Moth treatment essential
for successful eradication

The campaign to rid Auckland of the painted apple moth continues over summer with an aerial operation targeting five high-risk areas.

The first planned operation, which covers less than 1000 hectares in Ranui/Swanson, Riverpark , Hobsonville, Waikumete Cemetery and Motions/Meola Creek, is on Monday December 1. This operation will be repeated on a 21-day rotation into mid February.

In addition, a small section in the Ranui and Riverpark areas will be treated by a helicopter at 10-day intervals following the 21-day operation. All aerial operations are dependant on suitable weather. If an operation is postponed because of bad weather it will take place on the next fine day.

A map of the treatment area will be delivered to households at the end of November.

Robert Isbister, general manager of Painted Apple Moth Operations, says the continuation of the programme is part of the planned programme of treatments to ensure successful eradication of the painted apple moth.

“We simply can’t let up in the fight against this pest. If we do, and it re-establishes, all the work we have done for the past two years will be for nothing,” says Mr Isbister.

“This area is one seventh smaller than the previous operation”

The Spring campaign, amounting to 6,500 hectares, has a small part of its second treatment to be completed on the next fine day. Originally scheduled to finish on Tuesday, it has been postponed because of bad weather.

Mr Isbister says intensive and ongoing trapping will continue using 1,628 traps located both within and outside of the zone.

“The encouraging thing is that there have been no trap catches for the last five and half months” .

MAF has publicly notified the areas to be treated in the New Zealand Herald.

ENDS

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