New Zealand confirmed its first case of H5 bird flu on July 13, 2024, after a brown skua found dead on Petone Beach in Wellington tested positive for the H5N1 avian influenza clade 2.3.4.4b strain. The bird was discovered by a member of the public on July 10 and taken to Wellington Zoo, where tests confirmed the virus three days later. Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard stated that the H5 bird flu poses a low health risk to humans, as it rarely affects people unless there is direct, close, and prolonged contact with large numbers of sick birds. He emphasized that this is not a human health issue, with no evidence of human-to-human transmission. Hoggard noted that New Zealand is well-prepared, being one of the last places to detect the virus globally, and has learned from other countries' experiences. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is conducting surveillance, testing birds regularly, and monitoring Petone Beach and surrounding areas. No other sick birds have been found, and no cases have been detected in poultry. The Egg Producers Federation of New Zealand reassured the public that properly cooked poultry, eggs, and egg products remain safe to eat. The Department of Conservation has also started a vaccination program for five endangered bird species, including kākāpō and takahē, to protect them from the virus. Hoggard urged the community to report three or more sick or dead birds to the MPI hotline and avoid touching unwell birds.