Kiwifruit plant grown from illegally imported seeds is being removed from a small backyard kiwifruit orchard in Auckland.

The Ministry for Primary Industries started removing the plants yesterday after the ministry was informed the seeds were brought into New Zealand with a container of household goods when the owner moved to New Zealand in 1997.

File photo.

MPI response manager Katherine Clift says they were not declared and subsequently not detected at the border.

She says testing of plant material from the property carried out by MPI ruled out the presence of any serious disease-causing viruses, bacteria or fungi, including Psa and MPI assessed the plants presented a low risk to the New Zealand kiwifruit industry.

'In addition, the plants are at a location geographically removed from key kiwifruit growing areas and the owner has stated that no plant material has been moved from the property.

'Despite the low risk to the kiwifruit industry posed by this backyard operation, the seeds were imported illegally and MPI has decided any remaining seeds, kiwifruit material and the vines must be removed and safely destroyed.”

MPI is now working closely with the kiwifruit industry body Kiwifruit Vine Health (KVH) on this issue.