Labour wants fruit imports from Queensland and New South Wales halted while the fruit fly crisis is investigated but the government says that would be an over-reaction.
The discovery of another Queensland fruit fly in Whangarei, about 400 metres from where another was found in January, has horrified growers and opposition parties are demanding a biosecurity review. They say the flies are horticulture's version of foot and mouth disease and could devastate the $2.5 billion industry.
The movement of fruit and vegetables around Whangarei has been restricted but Labour's Damien O'Connor says that's pointless while fruit is coming in from Australian states struggling to control the pests.
"Drastic action must be taken... Labour wants fruit imports from these states immediately halted," he said.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy says that would be "a complete over-reaction" which could lead to retaliatory action against New Zealand's exports.
Horticulture NZ says it has confidence in detection systems but biosecurity needs to be urgently looked at. "It's unbelievable and unexpected... there have now been three detections in less than two years," the organisation's chief executive Peter Silcock said.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has alerted New Zealand's trading partners.
Spokesman Andrew Coleman says fruit fly populations have "dramatically increased" in Australia recently.
