The Government is confident the eradication of cow disease Mycoplasma bovis is working, saying feedback from the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) shows the response is making "substantial progress".
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said "at this stage I have confidence the approach we are taking to eradicate is the right one and we remain committed to this".
There are 32 infected properties currently. Two testing programmes of 51 properties found no new clusters of M. bovis.
"The TAG is more optimistic than six months ago, having confirmed that evidence shows we are currently dealing with a single and relatively recent incursion from late 2015-early 2016," she said.
Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor said he was "confident that eradication is possible and that we are on track in what is a world first but necessary action to preserve the value of our national herd and economic base".
"Since we announced the M. bovis recovery package two months ago, the Welfare and Recovery team has been boosted to 36 people."
He said that 180 farmers had been helped with compensation needs, with $37 million paid out as compensation.
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