A male Queensland fruit fly has been caught in Auckland, prompting an investigation from Biosecurity New Zealand.
The single fly was collected from a surveillance trap in Devonport and identified on Thursday afternoon.
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Restrictions will be put in place on the movement of fruit and vegetable out of the area.
Further instructions for the public about these restrictions will be issued soon while a brochure about the flies will be sent to nearby homes later on Friday.
Despite the find, Biosecurity New Zealand spokesperson Dr Catherine Duthie said it did not mean there was an outbreak in the city.
"The Queensland fruit fly has been detected six times before in northern New Zealand... only one, in Auckland in 2015, turned out to be a part of a wider breeding population and this was successfully eradicated by Biosecurity New Zealand," she said.
Additional fruit fly lure traps have been deployed to determine if other flies are present in the area.
"In the meantime we ask people who live in Devonport not to move any fruit or vegetables from their homes," Dr Duthie said.
"If it established here, the Queensland fruit fly could have serious consequences for New Zealand's horticultural industry.
"It can damage a wide range of fruit and vegetables and could lead to restrictions on trade in some of our horticultural exports."
Biosecurity New Zealand is working with international trading partners and partners in the horticultural industry to minimise the risk to exporters and growers.
It may also seek to investigate fruit trees on locals' properties.
Fruit flies typically enter New Zealand in fresh fruit and vegetables, which is why strict restrictions on their import are in place.
There are 7500 traps set nationwide which are checked regularly for fruit flies.
In 2015, fourteen fruit flies were found in Auckland's Grey Lynn, prompting a wide-scaled eradication operation which included a 3.5km export restriction zone.
More than 180 staff worked to stop the fly establishing a breeding system in the central suburb.
That operation cost the Ministry for Primary Industies $15.7 million, according to information obtained by Newshub.
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