WELLINGTON, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government is committed to ensuring an invading fruit fly does not establish here, after the second unwanted one was found south of Auckland, Minister for Biosecurity Damien O'Connor said on Tuesday.
This was only a week after a Queensland fruit fly was spotted in the Devonport area of Auckland.
"Getting rid of the fruit fly is New Zealand's most well-oiled biosecurity response. We've been here several times before and each time we've successfully got rid of this horticultural pest," O'Connor said in a statement.
"As part of our multi-layered biosecurity system, the 7,500 traps that lure the fruit fly for early detection during this summer risk season have done their job," he said, stressing extra check of air passenger and cruise pathways in the next few weeks.
The minister said the pest could significantly harm New Zealand's 5.5 billion-NZ dollar (3.75 billion-U.S. dollar) horticulture sector.
"Ever more visitors, a changing climate and more trade all contribute to biosecurity risk," he said, adding the biosecurity system has been strengthened with an extra 10 million NZ dollars (6.83 million U.S. dollars) at the budget and an overhauled Biosecurity Act to make it fit for the future.
