About the virus
Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is a highly contagious virus that mainly affects birds. However, it can also spread to mammals – including people.
There are two types of avian influenza.
High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI), which can cause severe signs and high death rates in birds.
Low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI), which usually causes few or no signs of illness in birds. However, when a LPAI strain infects chickens, it can mutate into a high pathogenicity strain.
New Zealand has had LPAI for decades but has only had one case of HPAI – the H7N6 outbreak in Otago in December 2024, which was contained and eradicated.
In 2020, the new strain of HPAI (H5N1 2.3.4.4b) emerged in the northern hemisphere. This strain affects a much broader range of bird species (500+) and can spread more quickly over longer distances than previous strains. Birds that breed in colonies are particularly prone to infection and overseas it has caused the deaths of millions of birds, including poultry (chickens and turkeys), waterfowl (ducks, geese and swans), shorebirds (godwits, stilts and plovers) and seabirds (gulls and terns).
It has also spilled over to more than 60 species of mammal, including marine mammals, companion animals, livestock and, in a few cases, humans.
In 2023, it spread to the southern hemisphere. Since then, it has spread through South America to the sub-Antarctic islands and the Antarctic peninsula.
On 15 July 2026, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) confirmed New Zealand's first detection of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza (bird flu) in a brown skua seabird found at Petone Beach in Wellington.
MPI is asking New Zealanders to be alert and use good habits to limit the impact of bird flu:
- Keep your distance. Stay away from sick or dead wildlife. Keep pets away too.
- Keep clean. Wash your hands and clean your gear after being outdoors.
- Know when to report. If you see three or more sick or dead wildlife, report them to the exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 809 966.
Find out more
What is New Zealand doing about it?
Under a One Health approach, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is the lead agency supported by the Department of Conservation (DOC), the Ministry for Health (MOH) and Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora. The response is designed to:
- Reduce the impact on highly threatened native species including vaccinations for a few).
- Reduce the impact on the commercial poultry sector.
- Maintain supply of poultry meat and eggs to the domestic market and access to overseas markets where possible.
- Protect human health.
What is Waikato Regional Council’s role?
Waikato Regional Council has contributed to the preparedness programme by providing advice and support from a regional sector perspective. We have also been working with all the local councils in our region to ensure they are prepared for HPAI H5N1 arriving in New Zealand.
Our role is primarily to help disseminate information and provide advice to the public. We will continue to work with the other agencies involved to determine any other support we can provide.
Report sick or dead birds and wildlife
If you see three or more sick or dead birds or wildlife, report it immediately to the MPI exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 809 966.
Provide as much detail as you can, including:
- a GPS reading or other precise location information
- photos and videos
- the name of the affected species, if known
- how many are sick or freshly dead, and the total number present.
MPI will note the details and an incursion investigator will contact you.
How to protect yourself and prevent possible spread
Now that H5 bird flu has arrived in New Zealand, there is the potential for people to encounter dead and dying birds or wildlife. People can contract H5 bird flu from handling infected birds and carcasses.
If you are exposed to sick or dead birds or wildlife, keep your distance and maintain good hygiene.
Do not touch, handle or collect any sick or dead birds or wildlife. If it is essential to handle them, follow the health and safety guidance provided by Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora.