Kaimai check for kauri dieback

An Example of a kauri-dieback diseased tree in Auckland’s Waitakere Ranges. Supplied Photo.

An aerial search for signs of kauri die-back disease in the northern Kaimai Range and surrounding areas is underway.

The Bay of Plenty and Waikato regional councils have pooled their resources to fly over the area, as part of a wider search effort which extends over the Coromandel Peninsula and Hunua ranges.

BOPRC biosecurity manager Greg Corbett says in the coming weeks people may notice a fixed wing plane flying in a grid or circular pattern over the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park and over nearby properties around the Waihi and Katikati areas.

To date there have been no sign of kauri die-back disease reported in the Bay of Plenty, he says.

'The aerial survey is a great opportunity to check that we are still disease-free or to identify die-back symptoms as early as possible, so we can prevent further spread and the loss of local kauri trees.

The Kaimai Range is the southernmost extent of New Zealand's kauri tree population.

Kauri dieback is caused by a microscopic fungus-like organism called Phytophthora agathidicida. The disease infects kauri roots and damages the tissues that carry nutrients and water within the tree, basically starving the tree to death.

Other kauri dieback symptoms include bleeding around the roots and lower trunk. It kills kauri of all sizes, from the smallest of seedlings to the mightiest of giants. Once a tree has the disease there is no cure.

The surveys are being carried out by the Waikato Regional Council as part of the National Kauri Dieback programme, and involve co-operation between the Ministry for Primary Industries, Department of Conservation, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, and Auckland Council.

A kauri dieback expert will be aboard the survey plane, looking for yellowing leaves, canopy thinning and/or dead branches. The survey will be carried out over approximately five days during February. The exact dates will depend on suitable weather conditions.

Bay of Plenty locals should call 0800 STOP PESTS to find out more about the survey or to report kauri die-back symptoms. For more information about kauri dieback visit www.kauridieback.co.nz

TRACK UPGRADES TO PREVENT KAURI DIEBACK SPREAD

The Department of Conservation has completed the first stage of a three year programme to upgrade tracks in kauri forests in the Tauranga, Coromandel and Waikato regions.

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says all up 26 high priority tracks across the North Island have been upgraded in a bid to help prevent the spread of kauri dieback.

'The 56 kilometres of track were improved to reduce wet and muddy areas where there is a risk of track users spreading kauri dieback spores in mud on their footwear.”

The track upgrade works involved DOC staff installing boardwalks and plastic honeycomb cells (geoweb) filled with bark chunks and gravel to make the track dry and mud free.

Some sections of track were re-routed, and steps were also installed in places.

Along with kauri forests in the Tauranga, Coromandel and Waikato, tracks in in the Bay of Islands, Kauri Coast, Whangarei and Auckland regions were also upgraded. DOC is also currently planning upgrade work on a further 150km of track, adds Maggie.

Geowebbing installed on a section of the Aotea Track on Great Barrier Island in the Coromandel. Photo: DOC

New boardwalk and track at Trounson Kauri Park on the Kauri Coast. Photo: DOC

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3 comments

its called

Posted on 07-02-2017 09:19 | By kurgan

Geoengineering and it's real and it is ruining our habitat and ourselves.


And Phytopthora is certain death.

Posted on 07-02-2017 16:16 | By R. Bell

If it's Geoengineering then perhaps it will reverse the damage caused to our habitat by ourselves. Robin Bell.


here we go again

Posted on 07-02-2017 17:47 | By old trucker

How much is all this costing,(just wondering,would 1080 poison do this),sixpence worth.Sunlive Thankyou,10-4 out.


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