{"id":143315,"date":"2025-11-19T17:15:13","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T17:15:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/143315\/"},"modified":"2025-11-19T17:15:13","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T17:15:13","slug":"suspected-hornet-nest-in-otaika-whangarei-a-false-alarm-mpi-confirms-amid-auckland-outbreak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/143315\/","title":{"rendered":"Suspected hornet nest in Otaika, Whang\u0101rei a false alarm, MPI confirms amid Auckland outbreak"},"content":{"rendered":"

As of November 18, Biosecurity NZ has confirmed 12 queen hornets and seven nests<\/a>, all in Glenfield and neighbouring Birkdale on Auckland\u2019s North Shore, Inglis said. <\/p>\n

Two suspected male hornets were reported in June and July, one of which was confirmed.<\/p>\n

Critics, including Northland-based biosecurity worker and conservationist Brad Windust<\/a>, claim Biosecurity NZ\u2019s response has been too little, too late, and fear queen hornets \u2013 the nest builders \u2013 might already have \u201chitchhiked\u201d on transport and cargo to other regions. <\/p>\n

Inglis disputed this, saying Biosecurity NZ responded extremely quickly since the queens were first identified on October 17. <\/p>\n

\u201c \u2026 We scaled the response up right from that point \u2026 We\u2019ve got over 120 staff on this response \u2026 guided by scientific evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inglis also disputed claims that it was not until the queen hornets were found that Biosecurity NZ sprang into action.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe raised awareness in July with key stakeholders, Auckland Council, KVH [Kiwifruit Vine Health], Department of Conservation, government industry partners \u2026 and we shared a fact sheet with the National Apiculture Surveillance Programme.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe blue spot in this chart shows the area of Auckland’s North Shore where Biosecurity NZ currently has traps laid for Asian hornets. Brad Windust suggests it should be extended to a radius of 30km around Glenfield \u2013 the distance queen hornets can fly. NZME graphic<\/p>\n

Inglis said MPI\u2019s Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of overseas experts had guided new measures: <\/p>\n

expanding trapping to a five-kilometre radius, with carbohydrate and protein traps introducing tracking technology from the Netherlands to trace hornets back to nests hosting a UK hornet specialist to train staff and advise on programme delivery increasing staff on the ground to accelerate hornet detection and removal<\/p>\n

Windust believed those measures fell short and that contingency plans in case hornets were found outside the existing detection area should already be formulated. <\/p>\n

He warned that if even two nests survived summer, the hornets would inevitably spread to other regions, reaching Northland within two years or sooner if they hitch-hiked.<\/p>\n

Windust believed the trapping radius should be extended immediately to 30km<\/a> \u2013 the distance queen hornets can disperse \u2013 and tracking devices and thermal drones should have been deployed. <\/p>\n

\u201cRegional councils, DoC and iwi biosecurity teams should have formally engaged much sooner,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cBeekeepers and orchardists across the North Island should be provided free VespaCatch traps to monitor for spread of the hornets … MPI should have formed the TAG immediately after the male hornets were found.\u201d <\/p>\n

Inglis rejected claims of complacency.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to eradicate this pest alongside our community partners and we\u2019ll continue to do so,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201c … The public play an absolutely vital part \u2026 just like it was with our successful eradication of fruit fly earlier this year and also the bird flu down in Otago.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inglis, who until joining MPI in 2019 was exclusively involved in prison management, rejected leadership criticism.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve dealt with leadership events for MPI in a wide range of things from the Covid response to Cyclone Gabrielle recovery \u2026 I led the response in the North Island for that \u2026 I led the response in terms of the two fruit fly incursions,” he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe main thing for every leader as well [is] that I\u2019ve got an unbelievable team around me. We\u2019re very, very blessed at MPI to have a range of entomologists, science-based individuals, technical people, a whole range of individuals that make sure it\u2019s right. I\u2019ve also ensured that my connections and relationships with a range of stakeholders are in a good space.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reports of suspected hornets or nests can be made at report.mpi.govt.nz or by calling 0800 80 99 66. Clear photos or a specimen are needed. <\/p>\n

Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years\u2019 experience in journalism, most of which she spent court reporting in Gisborne and on the East Coast.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As of November 18, Biosecurity NZ has confirmed 12 queen hornets and seven nests, all in Glenfield and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":143316,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[64865,534,6213,51,8344,13242,16843,1874,71993,78,29107,20998,111,43,139,69,96802,17976,17294,8841,19054,96803,1869,71992],"class_list":["post-143315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-zealand","tag-alarm","tag-amid","tag-asian","tag-auckland","tag-common","tag-confirms","tag-false","tag-found","tag-hornet","tag-in","tag-mpi","tag-nest","tag-new-zealand","tag-news","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-otaika","tag-outbreak","tag-suburb","tag-suspected","tag-turned","tag-wasps","tag-whangrei","tag-yellowlegged"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=143315"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143315\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/143316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=143315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=143315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=143315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}