There are 32 active infected properties and 51 have been cleared of the disease.
“The TAG is more optimistic than six months ago, having confirmed that evidence shows we are currently dealing with a single and relatively recent incursion from late 2015-early 2016,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
“The response started nearly 18 months ago and as the Coalition Government and the farming industry learn more about the disease, processes may change but at this stage I have confidence the approach we are taking to eradicate is the right one and we remain committed to this.”
Two testing programmes to work out the spread of M bovis have returned no undetected clusters.
International experts are impressed by New Zealand’s efforts to eradicate the cattle disease and are more confident the campaign is working, Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor said.
The spring bulk milk testing programme on all 11,300 dairy farms has identified only three infected properties, that were already part of the tracing programme, and to date there have been no positive test results in the beef calf-rearing survey.
O’Connor said everyone is stepping up in all aspects of biosecurity.
Federated Farmers dairy chairman Chris Lewis said it would be a massive achievement to beat the disease.
“We are cautiously optimistic and still have fingers and everything else crossed.
“It has caused enormous pain and suffering to the more than 1000 farmers and sharemilkers who have had to get through having the disease either found on their farm or linked to it.
“And this work is still going on. We certainly aren’t out of the woods yet.”
DairyNZ chairman Jim van der Poel said “DairyNZ has been on this journey since the moment we knew this disease had arrived in NZ and today will come as a relief to many farmers.”
Beef farmers are also encouraged.
“Although it is still early days and this is a complex disease we are pleased by the progress outlined in the TAG report,” Beef + Lamb NZ chairman Andrew Morrison said.
“The progress so far illustrates the value of a collaborative approach to fighting M bovis with the Government and industry working in partnership.
“Farmers and rural communities also deserve credit for stepping up to the plate during the eradication programme.
“We know this has been a difficult, uncertain and often upsetting time for farmers and their families, especially those directly affected because people’s livelihoods are at stake.
“Our view has always been that eradication was on the table for only a limited time and once it was off the table, it would be off forever, so we had to give this a go.”
