The kiwifruit vine-killing disease PSA-V has spread to a gold kiwifruit orchard in Kumeu near Auckland - the first time it has been found in that area.
Experts are now advising growers there on how best to go about trying to cope with the outbreak.
The agency in charge of trying to manage PSA, Kiwifruit Vine Health, has established a 10km radius quarantine around the infected orchard meaning no kiwifruit material or contaminated machinery can be removed.
KVH chief executive Barry O'Neil said it was disappointing PSA had been found in another region. However, the message to growers in every region remained the same, and that was to be proactive in trying to protect their orchards with spray programmes.
Dr O'Neil says the situation at the orchard is under control and officers are investigating whether PSA-V has spread to nearby properties.
He says the gold variety is difficult when it comes to trying to stop the spread, and the owner of the orchard is considering cutting out and destroying all vines on the 1-hectare property.
Kumeu has 25 kiwifruit orchards - most growing the less susceptible green variety.
Whangarei and Nelson are the last two kiwifruit regions believed to be PSA free, although Kerikeri has just the one infected orchard.
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