High-risk insects caught at NZ border surveillance update

The 'High-risk insects caught at the border' surveillance report has just been updated and published on the EHINZ website.

Here are the key findings:

  • Interceptions potentially originating from Australia and China accounted for roughly half of all interceptions from 2018–22.
  • There were just seven interceptions of potentially international origin in 2022, compared to an average of 39 per year over the previous 10 years.
  • Most interceptions from 2019–22 were in Auckland and Christchurch. Prior to 2019, Auckland had the overwhelming majority of interceptions.
  • Intercepted insects were mainly found in common cargo, primarily vehicle and machinery parts or household goods, from 2018–22

 The full surveillance report is here: High-risk-insects-SR-2023.pdf