Lyttelton residents are being urged to check their properties for potential mosquito breeding habitats

Te Whatu Ora want residents in the port town to remove stagnant or pooled water to prevent exotic mosquitos breeding.

A number of mosquitoes have been found at New Zealand's borders before - but fail to get established because of biosecurity rules.

Canterbury medical officer of health, Dr. Matt Reid says residents should take preventive measures to reduce the risk of multiple diseases.

He says if a mosquito gets established, it could be a vector for diseases like malaria, yellow fever or dengue fever to spread.