The Forest Bridge Trust – Free kauri health checks

Kauri have stood as giants of Aotearoa’s forests for centuries, surviving volcanic eruptions, storms and generations of change. Today, however, they face a threat they cannot overcome alone.

Kauri dieback disease is caused by a microscopic soil-borne pathogen (Phytophthora agathidicida) that attacks a tree’s roots, slowly starving it of water and nutrients. There is no known cure once a tree becomes infected. Even more concerning is the pathogen’s remarkable ability to survive. Thick-walled spores can remain dormant in the soil for up to ten years without a host. When the roots of a nearby kauri release natural chemical signals into the soil, those dormant spores awaken, producing microscopic swimming spores that infect the tree and begin a slow, silent decline.

The disease often remains hidden for years before obvious symptoms appear. By the time a kauri develops yellowing leaves, a thinning canopy, dead branches or the characteristic bleeding resin around the base of its trunk, the pathogen may already have caused significant damage. Because infected trees can appear healthy for long periods, early detection is one of the most important tools we have in protecting our remaining kauri.

Thanks to a partnership between Auckland Council and The Forest Bridge Trust, Rodney landowners and residents who have concerns about the health of kauri trees on their property are invited to register their interest in a kauri assessment. Submissions will be reviewed, and where appropriate, a qualified Kauri Protection Advisor will arrange a Kauri Health Check.

The service provides expert advice on assessing the health of kauri trees growing on private land, identifying possible symptoms of kauri dieback, and recommending practical measures to reduce the risk of infection.

Whether you have a single mature kauri in your backyard or a stand of trees on your property, a health check can provide valuable reassurance or help identify concerns before they worsen.

Protecting kauri matters because these are among New Zealand’s most extraordinary living treasures. Some trees standing today were already centuries old before Captain Cook arrived in Aotearoa. They can live for well over a thousand years, creating unique forest ecosystems, providing habitat for native wildlife, and holding deep ecological, cultural and spiritual significance. When a mature kauri is lost, we lose far more than a tree, we lose centuries of natural history that can never be replaced within our lifetime.

Everyone can play a part in protecting these forest giants. Kauri dieback spreads through tiny amounts of contaminated soil carried on boots, tyres, machinery, animals and gardening tools. Cleaning footwear and equipment before and after visiting kauri areas, staying on designated tracks, and avoiding the movement of soil or plant material are simple actions that help slow the spread of this devastating disease.

Protecting kauri is a shared responsibility. Every healthy tree we save helps preserve these magnificent forest elders for future generations.

If you have kauri trees on your property, or would like peace of mind about their health, contact Claire at claire@theforestbridgetrust.org.nz to arrange your free Kauri Health Check and help protect one of Aotearoa’s greatest natural treasures.