New Zealand is bracing for the arrival of a highly transmissible and deadly avian flu.
Hundreds of millions of birds have died overseas in the past few years from the H5N1 strain of bird flu.
New Zealand is one of just a handful of countries in the world with no cases.
But groups such as the poultry and egg sector, wildlife conservation and biosecurity are planning now for how best to defend against the virus.
Professor James Russell is a conservation biologist at the University of Auckland. He's previously worked with the Department of Conservation in bird flu readiness preparation.
He speaks to Emile Donovan.
An Adélie penguin found on Petone Beach undergoes a full health check at Wellington Zoo. Photo: Wellington Zoo
