Bird Flu or Avian Influenza (H5) and clade (N1) is in Aotearoa and among our wild birds. Check out more below to see what you can do to help lower transmission risk.
New Zealand has 2 confirmed detections of H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (H5 bird flu) so far. There have been no further detections of H5 bird flu since 17 July 2026. There is no evidence of any mass mortality in wildlife so we would like to keep it that way.
The Department of Conservation will continue its 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. We need your help to keep our city-loving birds/ manu happy and healthy.
As well as keeping an eye out for sick birds, here is three things you can do straight away to help.
Continue trapping
Trapping is a great way to stop rats transmitting disease from one nest to another. Grab a backyard trap on us or ask us to help with a local park trap line.
Wash your bird feeders
Wash them daily or stop using them until the disease has subsided. Keeping stations clean means less chance of disease spread when birds congregate.
Keep cats inside
We know cats love to hunt and play with birds (and rats too). Keep H5N1 away from cats and pets and lessesn threats to the birds while the disease is here.
For more information , see the officail MPI updates here or the Predator Free Guide to H5N1 here.