21 August 2026
New Zealand has 3 confirmed detections of H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (H5 bird flu).

New Zealand´s third case of H5 bird flu was confirmed on 21 August in a northern giant petrel, found dead on a remote Cape Palliser beach in the Wairarapa.

There is no evidence of any mass mortality in wildlife. There has been no detection in poultry.

Chicken and eggs remain safe to eat and bird flu is a very low risk to human health.

New Zealand is well prepared to respond to H5 bird flu and is working to protect poultry production and reduce impacts on wildlife and communities. Response and surveillance work has intensified in close coordination with industry partners and other agencies.

The Department of Conservation is implementing a vaccination programme for 300 core breeding birds from 5 of our most endangered birds – kākāpō, takahē, tūturuatu/shore plover, kakī/black stilt, and kākāriki karaka/orange-fronted parakeet.