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The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is using public reports, field surveillance, specialist investigators and aerial monitoring to watch for any further cases of H5 bird flu in New Zealand. The surveillance response was strengthened following the second confirmation of an H5 bird flu case in the Wairarapa. Since that detection, Biosecurity New Zealand staff have continued assessing reports of sick and dead birds while carrying out targeted checks across the region and wider country. MPI staff conducted enhanced surveillance in the Wairarapa on July 18. The work focused on identifying unusual illness or deaths among wild birds and determining whether any reports required further investigation. The team is experienced and consider every notification involving suspected avian influenza. Reports are assessed and triaged based on factors including the number of birds involved, the species, the location and the symptoms or circumstances reported. This process allows investigators to identify reports that may require closer examination, field visits, sample collection or laboratory testing. Public reporting is a major part of the surveillance system. People living and working around coastlines, waterways, farms and wildlife habitats can often be the first to notice unusual bird behaviour or groups of dead animals. MPI has thanked the public for the strong response following the Wairarapa detection as they continue to assess notifications about unwell and dead birds, with each report helping build a clearer picture of what is happening across the country. No further detections of H5 bird flu had been confirmed following the Wairarapa case. On July 23, MPI staff took to the skies to inspect the remote Wairarapa coastline. The aerial reconnaissance allowed surveillance teams to view isolated stretches of coast that can be difficult to reach by road or on foot. Staff were looking for any signs of unwell or dead birds, especially in areas where wild bird populations may gather. Aerial surveys can help investigators cover a large area quickly and identify possible clusters that may not have been reported from the ground. The operation was part of MPI’s wider response to the second confirmed case and provided another layer of surveillance alongside public notifications and field investigations. Bird flu is caused by influenza viruses that mainly affect birds. Monitoring is important because wild birds can move across large distances and may gather in significant numbers around coastlines, wetlands and waterways. Early detection gives authorities more time to investigate possible cases and determine whether infection is present. It also helps protect native wildlife, poultry farms and other bird populations from potential exposure. MPI’s surveillance system relies on information from several sources. These include reports from members of the public, observations from government staff, advice from veterinarians and wildlife specialists, and results from testing. Not every report of a sick or dead bird will be linked to bird flu. Birds can die or become unwell for many reasons, including injury, weather, starvation or other diseases. Each report still provides useful information and allows MPI to decide whether further investigation is needed. People should not touch sick or dead wild birds. Anyone who sees three or more sick or dead wild birds in a group should record what they have seen and note the precise location. Photographs may also help investigators when they can be taken safely and without approaching the birds. Public notifications remain one of the most effective ways to alert authorities to unusual bird deaths in remote or difficult-to-monitor areas. MPI is continuing surveillance following the Wairarapa detection and says it remains ready to investigate further reports. There have been no further detections of H5 bird flu since July 17 2026. There is no evidence of any mass mortality in wildlife. There has been no detection in poultry. A US poultry farmer and educator shares her experience of an H5N1 outbreak, the loss of 148,000 birds, and biosecurity lessons she believes every farmer should know. New Zealand is no longer dealing with a single, isolated warning. Two wild birds have now tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu, confirming the virus has reached separate parts of the lower North Island. The first case involved a brown skua found at Petone Beach in Wellington. The second was detected in a kāhu, or swamp harrier, found in Wairarapa. Authorities managing the potential for a wider outbreak say there are no confirmed infections in commercial poultry and no human cases in New Zealand. The current public health risk remains low. Those facts should prevent panic, but they should not prevent scrutiny. Two confirmed detections do not prove bird flu is spreading widely across the country, but they do raise the catastrophic stakes. The Government must now demonstrate that its response is built for more than reassuring statements and limited wildlife surveillance. The public deserves to know what happens if a third, fourth or tenth infected bird is found. It also deserves clear answers about what happens if the virus reaches poultry farms, domestic animals or people. The Government has already said New Zealand prepared for the virus through surveillance, emergency planning, industry biosecurity measures and vaccination programmes for some threatened native birds. Those precautions are necessary, particularly when even a small outbreak could devastate vulnerable wildlife populations. Preparation must also extend beyond conservation facilities. The Ministry of Health needs established testing capacity and clear clinical guidance that can facilitate rapid reporting systems for anyone exposed to infected birds. Hospitals and primary care providers must also know what symptoms to watch for and how suspected cases will be isolated, tested and treated. Poultry farmers need confidence that compensation, testing, movement controls and outbreak support can be deployed quickly if the virus enters a commercial flock. The public also needs transparent updates. Confirmed detections, testing numbers, affected regions and any evidence of transmission between birds or into other animals must be published. Silence between major announcements creates that looming uncertainty and leaves space for misinformation to spread. The H5N1 virus strain rarely infects humans without direct, close and prolonged exposure to sick birds. It does not currently spread efficiently between people but that does not make the threat irrelevant. Internationally, the virus has infected wild birds, poultry and several mammal species. Its continued spread increases opportunities for further viral change, making early detection and containment critical. New Zealand has an advantage that it did not have at the beginning of Covid-19. This threat has been advancing overseas for years and authorities have had time to study outbreaks, prepare response plans and identify weaknesses before the virus arrived. The discovery of two infected wild birds means that planning must now be tested against reality. Waiting for a human infection before strengthening the response would be a failure of preparedness. Waiting for commercial poultry losses before establishing support systems would be equally reckless. The Government must treat these two cases as an early warning, not an inconvenient development to be managed through reassurance. The response now will determine whether New Zealand stays ahead of the threat or is forced to chase it after the damage begins. Click a marker to view the confirmed detection details. A single kāhu, or swamp harrier hawk, found in the Wairarapa has become New Zealand’s second confirmed H5 bird flu case. A brown skua found at Petone Beach returned New Zealand’s first confirmed positive test for H5 bird flu.
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Confirmed H5N1 locations in New Zealand
Wairarapa
Second H5 bird flu case confirmed in Wairarapa
Petone Beach
First H5 bird flu case confirmed at Petone Beach
The Evidence Gap: When Governance Loses Sight of Reality
Examining the gap between political claims and measurable outcomes.
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Emergency and Crime
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Smears and Strategy: Ray Chung
Image: Wellington City Councillor Ray Chung, who has been linked to an assault allegation that remains unproven as Police withhold CCTV footage and officer notes related to the incident outside the 1841 Bar and Restaurant. Questions remain about what the footage shows and why the incident was characterised by Police as “not as reported.” (Supplied) 
Exposé Investigative Series by Samuel Hudson
Samuel Hudson takes viewers behind the headlines in the Exposé Investigative Series. A hard-hitting look at the stories that powerful interests would rather keep quiet. From political misconduct to corporate cover-ups, Hudson follows the evidence with persistence and commitment to public accountability.
Series description: Each exclusive episode and article unpacks the layers of influence shaping New Zealand’s institutions revealing how decisions made behind closed doors impact the lives of ordinary people. Drawing on interviews, documents, and first-hand reporting, Hudson’s work combines rigorous journalism with a clear-eyed pursuit of truth.
*This content is available in video/article format, hosted on thisquality
Because sunlight is still the best disinfectant.
Image: The Waihopai satellite communications station in Marlborough. The facility sits at the intersection of intelligence sharing, international security cooperation, and New Zealand's role within the Five Eyes partnership, themes that increasingly overlap with the strategic direction outlined in the Government's $12 billion Defence Capability Plan. (Supplied / Daniel Town) 
Exposé Investigative Series
by Samuel Hudson
Samuel Hudson takes viewers behind the headlines in the Exposé Investigative Series. A hard-hitting look at the stories that powerful interests would rather keep quiet. From political misconduct to corporate cover-ups, Hudson follows the evidence with persistence and commitment to public accountability.
Series description: Each exclusive episode and article unpacks the layers of influence shaping New Zealand’s institutions revealing how decisions made behind closed doors impact the lives of ordinary people. Drawing on interviews, documents, and first-hand reporting, Hudson’s work combines rigorous journalism with a clear-eyed pursuit of truth.
*This content is available in video/article format, hosted on thisquality
Because sunlight is still the best disinfectant.
Image: The Waihopai satellite communications station in Marlborough. The facility sits at the intersection of intelligence sharing, international security cooperation, and New Zealand's role within the Five Eyes partnership, themes that increasingly overlap with the strategic direction outlined in the Government's $12 billion Defence Capability Plan. (Supplied / Daniel Town)
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*This content is available in video/article format, hosted on thisquality
We invite brands and creators who want to connect with audiences across New Zealand to take advantage of this dedicated Creator Panel.
A fully customised Creator Panel can showcase content in a way that feels meaningful and engaging while aligning naturally within our content hub platform and its readership community. With reach that extends right across the country, from major cities to local communities, our audience represents a unique blend of interests, creating an environment where authentic stories and compelling ideas genuinely resonate rather than simply being glanced over.
Positioning content here is an opportunity to speak directly to a highly engaged audience that values original perspectives, offering not just visibility but real connection with people who care about what they read and share. This is a space designed for creators*, writers* and brands* looking to build presence, shape conversation, and be part of a wider narrative that reflects New Zealand’s culture making it an ideal Panel* to elevate and extend reach in a meaningful way.
*This content is available in video/article format, hosted on thisquality
Paul the Other One by Paul Barlow
This Week’s The News is a weekly current affairs series hosted by political commentator and filmmaker Paul Barlow that takes a sharp, media-literate look at the stories shaping New Zealand’s political and cultural landscape.
Series description: Each episode breaks down the week’s headlines through a critical lens, examining not just what is being reported, but how and why those narratives are constructed. Barlow interrogates framing, spin, and agenda-setting across mainstream media, politics, and online discourse.
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