Whangārei runners and walkers doing their bit to stop kauri dieback disease

Whangārei District Council planning assistant and 9km entrant Dee Du Toit with the scrubbing brushes which will be available for people to clean their shoes with before the 9km event. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Entrants in the 9km event at the Whangārei half marathon have been asked to clean their shoes before taking part to protect against the spread of kauri dieback disease.

Around 1100 people are entered across the 4km, 9km and half marathon events being held tomorrow in central Whangārei.

The 9km course is the only one which runs through forest at Mair Park which contains kauri trees.

It's the first year the request for people to clean their shoes has been made as the issue of kauri dieback disease continues to increase.

Sport Northland events lead Jesse Gavin said the organisation did consider changing the course but after speaking to Whangārei District Council opted to keep it as it is.

"They assured us it would be fine as long as people followed the instructions."

Event information tells competitors "we understand the impracticality of every person using the cleaning stations and instead ask that participants clean and ideally disinfect all footwear thoroughly before showing up to the event".

Council parks technical officer Stuart Jackson said the council took a science based approach to dealing with kauri dieback disease.

"We're award of the problem, we know what it is, how it spreads and we take precautions."

He said Sport Northland had been fantastic with sending information to competitors about cleaning their shoes.

"If their shoes are clean the chance of them bringing kauri dieback disease into the area is very low. We feel the risk is very low."

Jackson said the council would have volunteers at the beginning of the event with disinfectant, brushes and buckets so that anyone who hasn't already cleaned their shoes can do so.

Department of Conservation spokesperson Abi Monteith said it was great to have the support of Sport Northland in protecting kauri trees from the disease.

"Kauri dieback is an incredibly serious disease."

She urged competitors to give their shoes a scrub before taking part, especially because they may have been training in an area that is infected.

Gavin said the 1100 entrants across the three divisions was not a record number but it was up on last year. There are however, a record number of people entered in the half marathon.

"There are more participants in the half than the 9km."

Gavin said around 490 people are entered in the half, 470 in the 9km and the rest in the 4km event.

The 4km distance is new this year and is another way people can get involved and be active.

"It's to encourage people who aren't quite up to the 9km or the half. It's targeted at parents with prams."

All you need to know about the Whangārei Half Marathon:
-The half marathon starts at 7.30am near the canopy bridge
-The 4km starts at 8am on the canopy bridge
-The 9km run/walk starts at 8.30am on the canopy bridge
-Between 8am and 11am traffic can only travel in one direction on Beach Rd from Cliff St towards Whangārei Heads Rd. There will be no entry to Beach Rd from Whangārei Heads Rd
-Motorists can expect runners and walkers along various roads in Onerahi, Riverside, Whareora and the Hatea Drive area between 7.30am and midday.