Kauri dieback

Protect Our Kauri

Protecting kauri starts with you.

Our magnificent, ancient taonga kauri are under threat from kauri dieback.

Stop the spread – stop soil movement.

Kauri dieback has been found in Northland, Auckland and on Great Barrier Island but is not widespread in the Waikato region, with only a few sites on the eastern Coromandel (Whangapoua, Hukarahi and Tairua).

For national kauri dieback programme information, visit www.kauridieback.co.nz.

What is kauri dieback?

Kauri dieback is caused by the microscopic soil-borne organism Phytophthora agathidicida (PA). It affects kauri of any age by infecting and damaging its feeder roots, which cuts nutrients to the tree. Nearly all trees infected with it will die, making protecting trees from this organism extremely important.

How is it spread?

A pin-head of soil is all that’s needed to spread the disease. The organism causing kauri dieback produces spores, which are only spread via soil. It can move between trees via root contact and over tiny distances in wet soil. Oospores, its long-lived survival structures, can survive away from kauri roots for at least three years in infected soils. Spread of the organism is naturally slow. Its long distance spread is mainly via human activity and animals.

Because kauri dieback is not widespread in the Waikato region, it is a high priority to reduce further spread of the disease by stopping the movement of any contaminated soil.

Recognising the symptoms

Kauri infected with kauri dieback may have yellowing leaves, a loss of leaves and thinning canopy, dead branches, or lesions and gum bleeding around the base of its trunk. However, kauri can exhibit symptoms like these for other reasons too. The only way to confirm whether a tree has kauri dieback is through sampling and analysis of the soil around them. To report kauri that have these symptoms either REPORT THIS PEST or freephone 0800 NZ KAURI (0800 695874).

kauri dieback

How to help stop the spread

Avoid	Keep away from the delicate kauri root zone (three times the drip zone of the tree) Stay on tracks and stay out of closed tracks or areas protected by a rahui Avoid kauri areas in wet, muddy conditions Keep dogs on a leash when you’re in kauri areas - don’t drive or park in kauri areas Stay away from kauri with vehicles, machinery or stock
Clean	Clean to soil-free, then disinfect all footwear, gear, vehicles and machinery BEFORE and AFTER leaving kauri areas Use all cleaning stations you encounter, e.g., at track entrances Keep clean footwear in your vehicle to change into after being in a kauri area Maintain a boot cleaning area (e.g. community groups) or carry a hygiene kit to clean all footwear and equipment, horse hooves, mountain bikes etc.
Leave	Leave pruned or weeded material from kauri areas in situ or bag and disposed of it at an approved landfill site Use low impact vegetation control methods near kauri and avoid kauri root zones – use methods that don’t disturb the soil like mowing or slashing, rather than grubbing if required.
Specific advice for rural landowners
Be informed	Know where kauri is on your property Be familiar with the hygiene guidelines for activities in kauri areas Be familiar with the symptoms of kauri dieback
Clean	Maintain a wash down area, and boot cleaning area on your property, and carry a hygiene kit - to clean footwear, equipment, vehicles, machinery, stock hooves, and dog paws to soil-free Have farm-only footwear and clothing – that is only ever used on the farm Clean hooves of animals new to the property if they have come from other kauri areas
Visitors and contractors	Include kauri dieback hygiene signage at the entrance to your property Include kauri dieback awareness and hygiene requirements as part of your biosecurity briefing to and requirements for all visitors, and ensure they follow them Ensure visitor clothing and footwear are clean on arrival or provide visitors with clean ‘farm-only’ boots and clothing Have designated parking areas for visitors, away from kauri areas One exit/entry point to property for all visitors
Exclude and protect	Fence stock out of kauri areas – to prevent movement of soil and trampling in the kauri root zone Ensure fencing to protect kauri areas is well maintained to exclude stock
Stock	Know where you are buying stock from – don't purchase stock from other kauri areas Keep stock out of kauri areas Clean stock hooves to soil-free when moving them to and from areas with kauri
When building fences, tracks, and structures	Keep new fencing away from the kauri root zone, bearing in mind that this zone will increase as the tree grows. Site farm buildings and tracks away from kauri root zones. Site any tracks and roads low in the landscape and not on ridges above kauri. Minimised the area of disturbance, e.g., the width of the verge and amount of soil movement/excavation
Source clean	Only use clean sourced materials for track development, e.g. gravel Bring materials needed to one site, away from kauri

STOP THE SPREAD - A small commitment by you can make a big difference for kauri

Kauri root zone

The extensive kauri root zone extends three times the canopy radius (from trunk to dripline)

How to hygiene guides

What are we doing about kauri dieback?

Phosphite treatment programme

This autumn contractors BioSense are injecting phosphite into more than 2500 infected kauri near Whangapoua. While not a cure for the disease, research has shown that phosphite will boost a kauri's immune system and help them to fight back against the disease.

Take a look at the science stocktake for kauri dieback.