It appears the best efforts to contain PSA-V have been in vain with an orchard in Kerikeri, Northland now showing signs of infection.  

Kiwifruit Vine Health announced on Friday that a Kerikeri orchard had tested positive in a preliminary test for the vine-killing bacteria.

KVH general manger John Burke says the finding is extremely disappointing and is likely the result of inadvertent plant movement.

"Because Kerikeri is so far away from Te Puke you’d expect that it’s highly unlikely that it’s blown up there, but you never know with Mother Nature.

"But you’d more likely suspect it’s been plant material and I’d say Kerikeri has been so highly focused on protecting its borders it could have happened inadvertently prior to us discovering PSA-v  in Te Puke last November."

At least, 435 orchards have now tested positive for the bacteria, mostly in the Te Puke region, although with outbreaks in Waihi, Opotiki and now most likely Kerikeri. 

"We’re not doing a very good job of containing it but I think what we’ve got to say is that without these protocols we’ve put in place it would have been spread even faster and further."