Kauri Dieback Disease: Help protect our kings of our forest

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4. Kauri Dieback Disease: Help protect the kings of our forest

Kauri dieback disease is having a devastating effect on our giants of the forest. Once kauri trees are infected,they will die because there is no known treatment.

For the past  30 years, the disease has existed on Great Barrier island off the coast of Auckland however it has recently spread to the mainland, and can now be found in Auckland & Northland

This micro-scopic fungus (Phytophthora taxon Agathis) can infect kauri of all ages, from seedlings to mature trees.  The disease is spreads from the soil to the roots of trees, making it easily transmissible. 

The only way we can help is by stopping the spread of the disease from infected trees to healthy trees. The disease can be carried in soil on your footwear, when walking near kauri trees and on the feet and the guts of animals.

How to spot Kauri dieback disease 

Look our for Kauri trees with -

• Yellow leaves
• Dead branches
• Thinning canopy
• Bleeding gum (pictured) at the base of the tree, which spreads around the trunk to form a collar

How you can help 

• Don’t walk on kauri tree roots
• Stay on defined tracks
• Scrub any soil and mud off your footwear
• before and after you visit any kauri forest.
• Keep your dog on a leash so it doesn’t walk on kauri roots
• Fence livestock out of kauri forests and eradicate wild pigs

  Report suspected infected trees to the Kauri Dieback Response Team: 0800 695 2874