Kiwifruit farm owners in Kerikeri are urging for public support in fighting the vine disease Psa-V with a protective spray programme.

The plans include night spraying and this has caused some concern among the members of the community, according to Kerikeri Fruitgrowers' Association chairman Rick Curtis. He assured that the sprays are non-toxic and are relatively safe.

Kiwifruit Vine Health has established a controlled area including 102 orchards around Kerikeri after the bacteria was found on a gold kiwifruit orchard on Wednesday. The disease has been detected in Hawke's Bay and now there are serious concerns that the disease could travel to Gisborne. Experts say that it is now known if the disease will travel through the region via wind or mechanical means.

The vine-killing disease Psa-V disease was detected on the East Coast and has now spread to all of the kiwifruit growing regions in New Zealand except five regions of Kerikeri, Whangarei, Poverty Bay, Wanganuin/Horowhenua and the South Island that are still safe. However, new detections have indicated the disease is spreading to Kerikeri and steps need to be taken to control the disease.

A Kiwifruit Vine Health (KVH) meeting is being organized at Kerikeri on Monday to explain orchard hygiene and other measures to prevent the spread of Psa-V to the growers in the region.