The Country 10/11/25: Mike Inglis talks to Jamie Mackay

MPI’s commissioner north for biosecurity updates the Asian Hornet incursion and says we have it under control despite some outspoken criticism from Brad Windust, a biosecurity worker and former beekeeper.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Mike Ingalls is the Commissioner North for Biosecurity and z
and his job is to keep the Asian hornets out
of New Zealand. Now you want to have heard this mark,
but we've already spoken to the Minister of Biosecurity Andrew
Hogart about these He said they could decimate up to
thirty percent of the b population as it stands in
this country at the moment. And I don't need to

(00:21):
tell you this o number. We haven't got enough bees
to do the pollination as it is. This could be very,
very costly to the New Zealand economy if these hornets
get out of control. You got it under control.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
Yes, we do have under control at this stage. I
think it's absolutely right to be aware and be extremely
not being complete and it's potentially a four hundred million
dollar industry. We're engaging with our b industry and honey
industry colleagues daily. We've responded quickly to the detections that
are all isolated to one particular area. We immediately put

(00:55):
staff working full time on the response, including coursion investigators,
laborities and people working in the field, engaging with the
community and carrying out and hands surveillance. So we're taking
this extremely seriously. But we've got a plan, we've got
a methodology, we're taking technical advice and we continue to
seek the public support, who have been fantastic. We've had

(01:16):
over two thy three hundred public notifications and we're quickly
responding to all those calls and reports.

Speaker 1 (01:21):
Well, not everyone thinks you're doing a good job. There's
a Northland a former bias secure or a bio security
worker and a former bike caper by the name of
Bread Windust I hope I got his name right there,
and Bread's none too place. He reckons you guys have
dropped the ball. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:36):
I've reached out to Brad a couple of occasions and
spoke to him. We are absolutely respected and the passion
that we have in the community to work that through.
As it stands at the moment, we have confirmed five
yellow legged hornets, four queens and one male. So we're
focusing at this stage on Glenfield and the Burke Daily
area of Auckland's north shore. We've laid over one hundred
and forty two traps. Every trap is getting checked daily

(02:00):
and no hornets have been found in those traps to date.
And we're continuing to have enhanced on the ground surveillance
inarias where the Queen hornets have been found. This includes
making sure roofeves, trees, fence lines and other potential habitats.
So we're absolutely taking this seriously. We understand a role
in this. The community have been fantastic. We're engaging with

(02:20):
our industry partners, both GIA Horticulture and New Zealand the
Avocado Industry CAVIH. We've got a governance set up and
in terms of the discussion with Brad we will take
on in terms of feedback and make sure that we
continue to keep on top of this.

Speaker 1 (02:34):
Over says. Captured hornets have been fitted and this is
interesting with tawny radio transmitters and trispec to their nests
for extermination. Have we got that sort of technology here
mark ingles.

Speaker 2 (02:47):
And we're engaging with people. The Technical Advisory Group will
be discussing aspects of this this week and again we've
had lots of people reach out to us who have
had experience and other parts in terms of hornets and
the Technical Advisory Group. We have of expertise from France
that dealt with us and that includes with the Minister
in terms of potentially impact in thirty percent USA. So

(03:08):
again we've got those technical expertise giving us advice.

Speaker 1 (03:11):
Hi. Mark Engles from MPR, thanks for some of your time,
Thanks for clearing up some of the information. And if
people do think they've come across an Asian hornet, I
wouldn't even know what one looks like. I'm assuming you've
got a hotline number or something.

Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yes, we do, and as I said, the response from
the public has been incredible. And if you think you
have found a hornet, there's pictures up. They're larger than wass.
There's pictures up in our social media and on our website.
But take a photo of it, report it either online
or called the Biosecurity New Zealand Pest and Disease Line
on eight hundred eighty ninety nine sixty six got on.

Speaker 1 (03:46):
Yep, we don't want any hornets. The bees are two valuable.
Thanks for your toon.

Speaker 2 (03:50):
Thank you J