Auckland’s yellow-legged hornet hunt is widening, with new checks on the North Shore that matter for Hibiscus Coast beekeepers.

Biosecurity New Zealand has extended its surveillance zone for yellow-legged hornets from 5km to 11km around detection sites on Auckland’s North Shore, following advice from an independent technical advisory group, says commissioner north Mike Inglis.

He says the larger zone gives greater assurance the incursion is a single population contained to the local area and means teams can move fast if any spread is detected.

The enhanced surveillance is starting now, ahead of an expected lift in foraging by worker hornets.

Within the 11km zone, officers will work with more than 575 registered apiaries, placing traps near hives and giving beekeepers clear information on what to look for.

Trapping and ground searches have already expanded, with nearly 650 traps deployed within 5km of detection sites and more than 3,500 properties checked within 200 metres of confirmed finds.

Trap locations as at 11 December 2025 (yellow dots). All queen yellow-legged hornets have been found in Zone A (red circle) – a 1km buffer around detections.

To date, 34 queen hornets and 22 nests have been located and destroyed.

Mr Inglis says the detections show the surveillance is working well, and a panel of technical experts has praised the strong response so far.

“This endorsement gives us confidence that our efforts are on the right track and that we’re doing everything possible to contain and eradicate this pest,” he says.

Other steps include testing different trap designs and lures, ongoing inspections of nearby beehives, ground searches in reserves and residential areas, a national advertising campaign urging public reports, and new electronic tracking gear guided by UK experts to help trace nests from foraging workers.

Teams are also visiting markets, schools, businesses and libraries to talk with locals.

Public support has been strong, with more than 5,610 notifications so far, and Biosecurity New Zealand expects to find more hornets over summer as checks ramp up.

Whether you live on the Hibiscus Coast or visit the North Shore, you are asked to watch for nests in roof eaves, carports, decks, sheds and other sheltered spots, never remove a suspected nest yourself, and report any concerns online at report.mpi.govt.nz or by calling 0800 809 966.

What to look for

Click the play button below to watch the interesting MPI YouTube video on where to spot yellow-legged hornet nests.

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