Prevention

What can I do to stop it spreading?

When you are around kauri:

• Make sure shoes, tyres and equipment are cleaned to remove all visible soil and plant material before AND after visiting kauri forest
• Please use cleaning stations installed on major tracks
• Stay on the track and off kauri roots
• Keep your dog on a leash at all times.

We all can help - tourists, hunters, trappers, trampers, runners, bikers, walkers. We all need to make it happen, rather than hope 'someone else' will do it.

Read more here on how to stop the spread (170.6 KB PDF).

How can I spread the word?

Download a banner or button from our website to send to a friend or upload to your website.

What should I do if I have kauri on my land?

• Do not walk on kauri tree roots or compact soil around them. Keep dogs and animals away from kauri trees.
• Fence off kauri in rural situations to prevent damage and disease spread by stock.
• Download this warning sign and put it up to alert visitors to the dangers of spreading the disease. This can be laminated to make it more durable, or for a more permanent sign please contact the Kauri Dieback Hotline on 0800 NZ KAURI (69 52874).
• If you think your trees have symptoms of kauri dieback contact the Kauri Dieback Hotline on 0800 NZ KAURI (69 52874).

Will parks or reserves be closed?

There will be times when tracks are temporarily closed while re-routing or other work takes place to significantly reduce the spread of kauri dieback. Closure of parks or reserves is an option that may be considered in the future.

What is being done?

Since 2009 Maori, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, the Department of Conservation, Auckland Council, Northland Regional Council, Waikato Regional Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council have joined forces in a comprehensive programme. We are working together as one team to ensure the integrity of kauri ecosystems remains, to protect high value kauri areas and iconic kauri trees. The programme covers research into the detection and spread of kauri dieback, methods to control it and public awareness campaigns to help arrest its spread.

As we learn more about kauri dieback, efforts are focused on limiting the spread of the disease and protecting uninfected locations.

Footwear cleaning stations are now installed at many track entrances in kauri areas. They should be used when entering AND leaving.

Signage has been erected in key sites

Information is constantly being shared with landowners, visitors, community groups, journalists, clubs and event managers to help build awareness, understanding and action around kauri dieback.

A national surveillance programme is helping to assess and monitor locations of kauri dieback disease.

Research is underway to improve detection methods, increase our knowledge of how the disease spreads and develop effective control methods. You can learn from by downloading the Scientific Posters in out Publications section.

Wild animal control, particularly of pigs, is happening in some areas.

Work is also going into improving tracks construction, drainage and other made-made influences that will help reduce the spread of the disease.

Treatment and control tools

Plant and Food Research are trialling phosphite for treatment of kauri dieback. Phosphite has proven to be an effective cure for Phytophthora species in Avocado orchards and in overseas forest environments.

Lab trials with kauri dieback and phosphite control have been very promising.  Field trials are about to be undertaken in Northland to assess the effectiveness in the field and what dosage levels of phosphite are appropriate.