Rahui remains on mountains

Dieback-affected kauri trees at Albany Scenic Reserve, Auckland, 2013. Photo / File

A rahui or temporary access ban placed by Northland iwi Te Uri o Hau remains over two mountains near Kaiwaka to help prevent the spread of kauri dieback disease.

Te Uri o Hau applied the rahui late last year when the disease - Phytophthora taxon Agathis (PTA) - was found in kauri trees on Pukekaroro, near the junction of State Highway One and Bald Rock Rd, Kaiwaka. Nearby mountain Pukeareinga, was included in the ban although it is clear of the disease.

Kaipara-based Te Uri o Hau own the top of both these culturally important mountains (maunga).

Northland Department of Conservation's outgoing boss Chris Jenkins described the rahui as "good sense".

The Northern Regional Services director, Mr Jenkins said the deadly disease has had a devastating effect on Northland kauri for the past decade, on conservation land and private forest.

"We accept and support all practical measures, including rahui, that may help the spread of kauri dieback," Mr Jenkins said.

"The action by Te Uri o Hau in applying customary practice measures to protect their own taonga ngahere makes good sense."

DoC's approach to managing kauri dieback includes boot-spray facilities at popular track entrances, public education and practical and financial contribution to a multi-agency effort.

Much of a 2014 Budget allocation of $25 million over four years is being spent on a collaborative effort to address kauri dieback that includes tangata whenua, Ministry for Primary Industries, DoC, and Northland Regional, Auckland City, Waikato Regional and Bay of Plenty Regional Councils.

There is no known cure for the soil infection that has been in pockets of northern New Zealand kauri forest since the 1950s but which is spreading quickly. In 2008 the fungus-like disease was identified as a species of Phytophthora specific to kauri. Nearly all infected kauri die, with thousands of trees of all ages dying in the past 10 years.

The second Kauri Die Back Symposium is at Opononi on February 14-15.