WELLINGTON: New Zealand has confirmed its first case of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza after a migratory brown skua found on a beach near Wellington tested positive for the virus, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard announced on Wednesday.
The detection marks New Zealand’s first confirmed case of the deadly H5N1 strain, which has spread widely among wild birds and mammals across the globe since 2021.
How Was New Zealand’s First H5N1 Case Detected?
The infected bird was identified as a brown skua, a migratory seabird discovered on a beach near the capital, Wellington.
According to Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard, authorities have found no evidence of widespread transmission among wild birds or mass wildlife deaths in New Zealand. He also confirmed that no cases have been detected in poultry.
“There is no evidence of any mass mortality in wildlife or transmission between wild birds in New Zealand. There has been no detection in poultry,” Hoggard said.
The case follows the detection of H5 bird flu in Australia last month, making New Zealand the latest country to report the virus.
What Measures Is New Zealand Taking to Contain the Virus?
New Zealand has been preparing for the arrival of H5N1 through enhanced biosecurity measures developed in coordination with the poultry industry.
Officials said the country could experience a pattern similar to neighbouring Australia, where 14 confirmed or presumed positive H5 bird flu cases had been recorded as of Wednesday.
As a precaution, health authorities have launched a vaccination programme covering 300 core breeding birds from five of New Zealand’s most endangered species to help protect vulnerable wildlife populations.
The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain has spread across wild bird and mammal populations worldwide since 2021, causing millions of bird deaths and outbreaks on poultry and dairy farms, while also infecting a limited number of farm workers.
The virus was also confirmed on Heard Island, a sub-Antarctic Australian territory, in late 2025.