Another kauri dieback case found in Coromandel Peninsula

Tuesday, 19 June 2018

Kauri dieback has been found in a private forest in Tairua area, on the Coromandel Peninsula (file photo).

A Kauri-killing disease has been found in a private forest on the Coromandel Peninsula.

The Tairua discovery means there are now six kauri dieback sites identified in the Waikato.

The new kauri dieback site is in a forest in the Tairua area.

Waikato Regional Council confirmed the latest discovery - in a forest on private property - on Tuesday afternoon.

Nearby tracks on public conservation land at Lynch Stream and Twin Kauri Tracks have since been closed by the Department of Conservation.

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'The [Tairua] site was identified for further testing after an aerial survey carried out by the council last year showed kauri with signs of poor health,' a council statement said.

There is no known cure for kauri dieback, council's integrated catchment services manager Patrick Whaley said.

'We can stop it from infecting other kauri by limiting soil movement. That means fencing kauri from stock, keeping people out of the bush, killing feral animals, and having good machinery cleaning practices.'

Kauri dieback had already been confirmed at five Coromandel Peninsula locations in Hukarahi, near Whitianga, and in the Whangapoua Forest.

The disease starves trees to death, Whaley said.

Symptoms include a yellowing and thinning canopy – but that can be caused by other things too.

Thousands of aerial photos were taken of the Waikato region during last year's survey, carried out by the council as part of the national Kauri Dieback Programme.

The survey also identified other Waikato kauri showing symptoms of the disease, and council and the Department of Conservation are now 'groundtruthing' those areas.

They have taken samples from private properties over north Waikato, Hauraki and Coromandel but the Tairua site is the only place found to have kauri dieback.

The Kauri Dieback Programme partners are working on an action plan for the new infection area in Tairua, Whaley said.

The Kauri Dieback Programme was launched in 2009 to manage and respond to the spread of the disease.

It is a partnership between the Ministry for Primary Industries, tangata whenua, Department of Conservation, Auckland Council, and Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty regional councils.