The relentless scourge of Psa is nibbling at kiwifruit orchards on the southern fringes of South Auckland.

A disappointed John Burke, General Manager of Kiwifruit Vine health, the Government organisation set up to manage the disease, said  in spite of the vigilance, two orchards in the Pukekohe area have suspected breakouts.

A provisional priority zone has been established while tests are verified, with results expected later this week.

Mr Burke says if the outbreak is confirmed it is more than likely the result of an inadvertent plant movement, rather than spread from a weather event.

Kiwifruit Vine Health’s latest statistics summary show that 868 orchards, or 26 per cent of New Zealand’s kiwifruit orchards, have been confirmed with Psa-V, with most of those in the Te Puke region.