Biosecurity officials have admitted defeat over a destructive beetle that could cost the horticulture industry millions of dollars every year.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) says the Hadda beetle is widespread in Auckland and eradicating it is not possible.
The small beetle is harmful to many crops including potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants.
It was discovered in Auckland in January but MAF has since found it may have been in the country since 2006, and is well established.
Horticulture New Zealand says damage from the beetle will probably cost $100 million over the next 20 years.
It agrees it's too late to eradicate the bug, but is questioning the biosecurity systems that allowed it in.
The organisation Potatoes New Zealand says the beetle's incursion suggests pest surveillance at ports should be intensified, and more checks are needed before imports leave their country of origin.
Pukekohe-based grower, Kevin Wilcox of AS Wilcox Potatoes, says growers are already having to deal with the costs of fighting another devastating potato pest, the tomato-potato psyllid, which is causing millions of dollars worth of damage.
He says while biosecurity protection is a complex issue, it appears the potato industry is getting a rough deal from the existing rules which do not go far enough to protect them.
Biosecurity New Zealand says it needs to balance the benefits of trade and tourism against biosecurity risks, and is doing the best it can with the resources it has.
Director of cargo Steve Stuart says while no system will ever be completely effective, he is confident that, through the use of profiling, intelligence and targetting of risk goods, the vast majority of risk coming into New Zealand is picked up.
