Sensible Choices About Water
OPINION: Rivers never sit still. They start as snowmelt and rain in the high country, pick up a creek here and a stream there, and carry all of it down to where it's needed.
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says the case, a brown skua, was found on Petone beach in Wellington.
H5 bird flu is a low health risk to the public as it rarely affects humans unless there is direct, close, and prolonged contact with large numbers of sick birds.
Eggs and poultry remain safe to eat.
Hoggard says the case is a coastal detection in an individual ocean-going seabird and there is no evidence of any mass mortality wildlife or transmission between wild birds in New Zealand.
"There has been no detection in poultry," Hoggard says.
"The situation is being closely monitored, but at this stage there is no evidence of any illness beyond this seabird," he says. "We've had people out on Petone beach checking and found no other issues. We will continue to monitor the beach and surrounding areas."
"We ask the community to be alert and follow advice about reporting sick or dead birds. It is vital that people not touch or handle unwell birds."
Hoggard says the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will continue wider surveillance and work closely with industry, veterinarians, and wildlife carers.
He says New Zealand is well prepared to respond to H5 bird flu and will work to protect poultry production.
"MPI, the Department of Conservation, the Ministry of Health, and Health New Zealand have been working together with industry and local councils to get ready," Hoggard says. "Our response is designed to manage the risks of H5 bird flu, to protect poultry production, and reduce impacts on wildlife and communities.”
MPI has been working with the poultry industry to develop biosecurity and resilience plans, to create industry preparedness for when H5 bird flu arrives.
In September 2025, a Government Industry Agreement (GIA) formally established the Poultry Council to oversee the delivery of a joint readiness work programme between MPI and industry. This programme aims to minimise the impact of H5 bird flu on the poultry sector and safeguard New Zealand's chicken and egg supply.
At present, MPI is testing birds every few days through reports and targeted wildlife surveillance.
“While there are no detections in poultry, producers are reminded that on-farm biosecurity practices are crucial to protect the health of their flocks,” Hoggard says.
“Australia has recently experienced finds of single birds with H5 bird flu in coastal areas with no reports of mass mortalities. We may see a similar pattern here and we will remain vigilant.
"We are continuing to act early and prepare carefully, while asking the community to remain watchful and report three or more sick or dead birds in a group to the MPI pest and disease hotline."
The Department of Conservation (DOC) has started a vaccination programme for 300 core breeding birds from five of our most endangered birds - kākāpō, takahē, tchūriwat’/tūturuatu/shore plover, kakī/black stilt and kākāriki karaka/orange-fronted parakeet.
What People Can Do
If you see three or more sick or dead wild birds in a group, report it immediately to the exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66 from anywhere in New Zealand.
Don’t handle or move the birds. Go to www.mpi.govt.nz/bird-flu to find out more.
Provide as much detail as you can, including:
- common name or species of sick or dead bird if known
- how many are sick or freshly dead, and the total number of birds present
- a GPS reading or other precise location information
- photographs and videos of sick and dead birds
- how many are sick or freshly dead, and the total number of birds present.
More information about H5 bird flu and the work New Zealand is doing to prepare is available at mpi.govt.nz/hpai.
