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Kauri Bushmen’s Association president Ray Jensen and Auckland Council kauri dieback ambassador Zacc Forbes-Smith in front of the giant McKinley tree at the Parry Kauri Park next to Warkworth Museum. With an average of 150 people a day passing through, the landmark kauri has been fenced off until access can be made safer and more secure for both visitors and the tree. Bushmen’s Association members will be working closely with Council to devise practical solutions to protect local kauri on walkways.
The discovery of a number of new and suspected local cases of kauri dieback could result in the temporary closure of several parks and reserves as part of a wide-ranging bid to halt the spread of the deadly tree disease.
Kauri behind Mahurangi College and at Duck Creek in Warkworth have been confirmed as being infected with the disease, while a tree at Parry Kauri Park in Warkworth and one at Matheson Bay Reserve are possibly infected – though Auckland Council kauri dieback biosecurity manager Lisa Tolich stresses that the tree showing symptoms at Parry Kauri Park is neither of the well-known ancient McKinney or Simpson trees.
The diseased tree at Mahurangi College is in a riverside strip of land frequented by students that has been fenced off. Ms Tolich says soil samples have been taken from the adjacent Falls Road Esplanade and View Road Bush Reserves to find out if the disease has spread beyond one tree. Mahurangi College says that while the diagnosis of kauri dieback is sad, it will work with Council to help educate students on the disease and to help protect other trees in the area.
The latest discoveries come as a detailed Auckland-wide kauri dieback mitigation programme is being researched and developed by Council biosecurity staff, including drawing up high level protection measures for all parks and reserves with kauri ecosystems.
As well as fencing off infected trees, general mitigation measures are likely to include upgrading, re-aligning or re-routing tracks, combined with other physical works such as the installation of boardwalks and hygiene stations, to keep kauri as isolated and safe as possible from the soil-borne infection.
More than 40 parks and reserves in Rodney have already been analysed by biosecurity staff and their draft planned protection measures were endorsed by the Local Board at its monthly meeting on March 21. Further investigations to determine the costs and timelines required to complete the works will now be carried out and a detailed programme will be presented to the Board by mid-year. Work is expected to start in summer and take at least two years.
Ten parks and reserves in Rodney have been classified as having high recreational value and a high value kauri ecosystem that warrant investment to ensure healthy kauri are protected and diseased kauri are contained and do not become a source of infection (see panel).
The cost of any planned mitigation measures will be met by Council’s Natural Environmental Targeted Rate that was approved as part of Council’s 10 Year Budget in June, 2018. Around $105 million, or a third of this funding, will be focused on managing kauri dieback throughout the Auckland region.
The Council programme is being developed in parallel with a new National Pest Management Plan for kauri dieback disease.
Possible temporary closures to prevent potential spread of infection during mitigation works
Matheson Bay Reserve
Parry Kauri Park, Warkworth
Duck Creek, Warkworth
Possible temporary closures to protect symptom-free trees during mitigation works
Brick Bay Drive, Sandspit
Brick bay Drive, Puriri Place, Sandspit
Currys Bush Reserve, Wellsford
Kowhai Park, Warkworth
Leigh Harbour Cove Walkway
Martins Bay Recreation Reserve
McElroy Reserve, Cowan Bay Road, Mahurangi West
Omeru Scenic Reserve, Makarau
Possible hygiene station installation
Buckleton Beach Reserve
Sesquicentennial Walkway, Warkworth
Other protection work, such as planting and signage
Whangateau Domain Recreation Reserve (bush area only)
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