More Auckland tracks and parks closed due to threat of kauri dieback disease

Thursday, 30 May 2019

The kauri tree 'Awhiawhi' in Titirangi is under threat, but not just from kauri dieback (video first published in May 2019).

Several parks and tracks across Auckland are being fully or partly closed to stop the spread of kauri dieback.

Kauri dieback is a disease affecting native kauri trees. It is 100 per cent fatal to the trees.

Its presence in the Waitākere Ranges forests in west Auckland led to their closure in 2018.

On Thursday, Auckland Council announced it would close tracks and local parks in the Rodney, Hibiscus and Bays, Waitākere Ranges, Henderson-Massey, Ōrākei, Papakura, Upper Harbour, Howick and Waiheke local board areas.

* Kauri dieback disease found in tree near Mahurangi College, Warkworth

* Residents volunteer to help reopen closed track at regional park plagued with kauri dieback

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

The latest closures bring the total number of parks and tracks closed to the public due to kauri dieback – including those in the Waitākere Ranges – to 29.

Several parks and tracks across Auckland are being fully or partly closed to stop the spread of kauri dieback disease.

The council's biosecurity manager of kauri dieback, Lisa Tolich, said the disease had been found at some of the locations and others were being closed as a precautionary measure because they had a large number of kauri.

There were healthy kauri close to the tracks and parks that needed to be protected, she said. Dirt tracks increased the risk of contaminated soil being moved around.

Contractors would start putting up barriers at entrances to affected track on June 5.

The closures were expected to be temporary. Council staff would update the respective local boards in August with more recommendations.

TRACK AND PARK CLOSURES:

- Shona Esplanade Reserve, Henderson-Massey (partial closure)

- Awaruku Reserve, Hibiscus and Bays (partial closure)

- Emlyn Place, Hibiscus and Bays (partial closure)

- Alice Eaves Scenic Reserve, Hibiscus and Bays (full closure)

- Gills Road, Upper Harbour (partial closure)

- Lady Phoenix Reserve, Upper Harbour (partial closure)

- Paremoremo Scenic Reserve, Upper Harbour (partial closure)

- Three Streams Reserve, Upper Harbour (partial closure)

- Curry's Bush Reserve, Rodney (full closure)

- Kowhai Park, Rodney (partial closure)

- Martins Bay Rec Reserve, Rodney (partial closure)

- McElroy Reserve, Rodney (full closure)

- Omeru Scenic Reserve, Rodney (full closure)

- Point View Reserve, Howick (partial closure)

- Dingle Dell Reserve, Ōrākei (partial closure)

- Seibel Scenic Reserve, Waitākere Ranges (full closure)

- Bill Haresnape Walk, Waitākere Ranges (full closure)

- Mahoe Walk, Waitākere Ranges (full closure)

- Opou Reserve, Waitākere Ranges (full closure)

- Paturoa Way, Waitākere Ranges (full closure)

- Rahui Kahika Reserve, Waitākere Ranges (full closure)

- Titirangi War Memorial, Waitākere Ranges (full closure)

- Okewa Reserve, Waitākere Ranges (full closure)

- Tinopai Reserve, Waitākere Ranges (full closure)

- Wood Bay Reserve, Waitākere Ranges (full closure)

- Arama Reserve, Waitākere Ranges (full closure)

- Henderson Valley Scenic, Waitākere Ranges (partial closure)

- McKenzie Reserve, Waiheke (partial closure)

- Kirks Bush, Papakura (partial closure).