Beautiful Kauri native tree on the track-protection needed.

NZ Kauri tree, Waitakeres.Sadly there is a Kauri Dieback disease affecting the trees though. Between 2011 and 2016 the spread of kauri dieback disease increased on average from 8 percent to more than 19 percent in the Ranges.In some areas, including Piha, up to almost 60 percent of trees are infected.Trampers or walkers have to brush and disinfect their shoes on some of the walks. The National government's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is the national co-ordinator of the $26 million Kauri Dieback Programme, which was set up in 2014 to try to control the disease.They have not helped the rescue of the trees.The disease has some similarity to the Irish potato famine. A disease which is killing off kauri in parts of Northland, Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula and further south.

 

There is now a rahui on the entire Waitakeres green space for Auckland.

 

There is research into the use of the agricultural chemical phosphite to control the disease.

 

Kauri dieback is caused by a microbe called Phytophthora taxon Agathis (PTA), which was formally identified in 2008 and has been in the country for at least 40 years.

 

Regional councils and the Department of Conservation (DOC) are responsible for delivering the programme locally, including making sure hygiene stations for people to clean their shoes are stocked with disinfectant and raising public awareness.

 

Back in 2015 Scion scientist Dr Phillip Wilcox said research into genetic resistance was a high priority of the programme to combat kauri dieback. "We're only just now getting into the research that is necessary to identify and utilise genetic resistance," he said.

 

Perhaps opportune for the funding?

Done