The Moeraki commercial poultry farm at the centre of an avian Influenza outbreak in 2024. "This project involves testing mallard ducks for avian influenza. "This includes avian influenza testing of mallard ducks in Otago, amongst other locations." Previous testing of mallard ducks, through the avian influenza surveillance programme, has shown them to be free of avian flu. As a result, HPAI is once again absent from New Zealand," the latest avian influenza surveillance programme annual report states.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 24, 2026 15:03 UTC