Yellow-legged hornets in Auckland

The story so far

Biosecurity New Zealand has been responding since October to invasive yellow-legged hornets, which prey on honeybees, after the first queen of the species was found building a nest in Glenfield on Auckland's North Shore.^{23, 24, 29 Oct 2025} Two more queens were found within 2km of the first, and by 4 November six detections, including four queens, had been confirmed in Auckland.^{29 Oct 2025; 4, 5 Nov 2025} A Northland conservationist and beekeepers criticised the response as inadequate and warned of damage to the farming and beekeeping industries.^{3, 7 Nov 2025} Experts warned that New Zealand had a narrow window to stop the incursion, after two males were spotted in Auckland during winter.^{1 Dec 2025}

Latest

Earlier, the Ministry for Primary Industries said a suspected nest reported in Paengaroa, Bay of Plenty, was not a hornet nest.^{9 Dec 2025}

Key moments

1. 23 Oct 2025First queen of the species found in New Zealand, building a nest in Glenfield.
2. 29 Oct 2025Two more queens found within 2km of the first North Shore queen.
3. 5 Nov 2025Four queens detected since 17 October; 120 traps planned for tracking.
4. 15 Nov 2025Two more nests found in Glenfield; total queens in Auckland rises to nine.
5. 30 Nov 202527 queens, seven workers and 17 nests removed from Glenfield and Birkdale.
6. 1 Dec 2025Experts warn of narrow window after two males spotted during winter.
7. 11 Dec 2025Surveillance zone expanded from 5km to 11km across the North Shore.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.