Government invests $14m into research on kauri dieback and myrtle rust diseases

Tuesday, 20 November 2018

The Government will invest almost $14 million into new research for tackling deadly tree diseases.

There was a 'critical need' for long-term solutions to the spread of kauri dieback and myrtle rust, Minister for Research, Science and Innovation Dr Megan Woods announced on Tuesday.

'It is vital we get this work under way now to ensure we combat these two pathogens and protect these taonga species.'

Kauri dieback is an incurable disease. Thousands of kauri trees in the Waitakere Ranges in west Auckland have died since the disease was discovered there in 2006.

**READ MORE:

* Kauri dieback: The battle against the 'biological bulldozer'

* Tāne Mahuta could soon be infected with fatal Kauri dieback disease

* Another kauri dieback case found in Coromandel Peninsula

* Myrtle rust detection programme wound down

* Deadly myrtle rust rang alarm bells for nursery owner as soon as he saw it

* Deadly myrtle rust endangers manuka and pohutukawa**

The new funding is on top of previous research funding of $6.9m for myrtle rust and $4.7m for kauri dieback allocated in 2018/19.

Dr Amanda Black from Lincoln University said this is not a huge amount of money compared to what is spent developing agrichemicals.

'For example, on average it takes 11 years and $268 million to develop and launch a new agrichemical to protect a crop, compared to the $12 million for both kauri die back and myrtle rust over five years.'

However, it was a step in the right direction, she said.

Mels Barton, secretary of The Tree Council, said the decision came at a critical time when operational tools to manage the disease were needed.

'After nine years with few advances, new management is urgently required in order for the essential science research to deliver meaningful results.'

'The science programme must be managed in a strategic and coherent way prioritising the most important research first… This can only be achieved through collaboration and leadership by experienced science programme managers.'

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has been co-ordinating a kauri dieback programme that involves four North Island councils, the Department of Conservation, and tangata whenua. Auckland Council is part of the programme.

MPI advises that people who visit any kauri forest should clean soil off their footwear and other gear every time they enter or leave a forest area with native trees and use disinfectant after they've removed the soil.

Forest & Bird has been an outspoken critic of how dieback has been managed over the past 10 years, spokeswoman Dr Rebecca Stirnemann​ said.

'The Strategic Science Investment Fund, which will be taking over the management of research to combat the spread of …  dieback, has an excellent track record of bringing the best teams together including experts, communities and iwi.

'With this group at the helm, we expect a greater sense of urgency will kick start the science and research programmes that are so desperately needed to save our kauri forests.'

Symptoms of the fungal disease myrtle rust can include powdery, bright yellow or orange-yellow spots, or brown-grey rust pustules.

MPI said the disease attacked plants and trees in the myrtle family including pohutukawa, rata, manuka, lilly pilly and feijoa. It was first found in Auckland in late 2017.

Severe infections of the disease could affect New Zealand plants and have 'long-term impacts on the regeneration of young plants and seedlings', the ministry has said previously.