New Zealand / Regional

Pasifika venue up in air over fruit fly

16:08 pm on 24 February 2015

An Auckland Council agency says it is assessing other venues to host Pasifika, as the Ministry for Primary Industries decides whether it can take place in the heart of the fruit-fly cordon.

Photo: AAP

The Pasifika Festival runs for two days and draws about 80,000 people each year. It is scheduled for 14 and 15 March.

It has been held at Western Springs Park for most of its 23-year history.

Auckland Council events company ATEED, event manager Orange Productions and the Ministry for Primary Industries spent yesterday discussing whether the festival can take place at Western Springs, given the biosecurity threat.

ATEED is looking at a number of other venues outside the fruit-fly control zone, and checking their availability and suitability.

Orange Productions said it was pushing for a decision to be made public today or tomorrow.

Another fruit fly was discovered today, which brings the number of adult flies found to five, along with 38 larvae and one pupa.

Restrictions on the movement of fruit and some vegetables out of the control zone was extended on Saturday for up to two months.

The control zone was set up last week, centred on the property in Grey Lynn where the male fly was found last Monday.