Third case of H5 bird flu found in Wellington region

A third case of H5 bird flu has been detected in a northern giant petrel, in the Wairarapa.

Ministry for Primary Industries says it was found dead on a remote Cape Palliser beach.

It follows cases found in a kāhu, or swamp harrier, and a brown skua.

It was found by a Department of Conservation (DOC) ranger, who notified the MPI hotline.

Samples received by the MPI Animal Health Laboratory on 14 August were tested and initially found low levels of influenza virus in the bird. It took several rounds of testing to confirm bird flu.

MPI chief veterinary officer Mary van Andel says this hasn't come as a surprise as ocean-going birds can arrive on New Zealand coastlines.

Van Andel says the risk to human health remains low and there were no other signs of issues at the beach.

"We expect we will continue to find more cases in wild birds," she said.