Incineration is no longer being used to destroy kiwifruit vines infected with the Psa bacteria. Kiwifruit Vine Health Incorporated general manager John Burke says the incineration process did not properly destroy kiwifruit vines.

Some of the burning taking place at the TECT All Terrain Park.

A special incineration machine started burning infected vines at a burning zone in the TECT All Terrain Park on State Highway 36 on November 19 last year.

'Burning didn't really work. The burners were not powerful enough. It was not big enough for the scale we required.”

KVHI management, the newly formed organisation heading the industry response to the Psa incursion, says burning is still being explored as a future option though.

All infected vines are now being deep buried at a forestry site near Tauranga.

John says deep burial on orchards may also be considered, but that would take considerable consultation with growers to ensure specific requirements were met.