Call to close tracks to save dying kauri

Trampers are asked to clean their boots to prevent spreading kauri dieback disease. Photo / Greg Bowker

The Waitakere Ranges Protection Society is calling for closure of walking tracks to protect areas that are not yet affected by a disease that is killing kauri trees.

Society president John Edgar said yesterday that aerial mapping and tree testing showed a "massive overlap" between tramping tracks and dead or dying trees in the popular West Auckland park.

"The water mould that spreads the disease is carried on boots and can stay dormant for months," he said.

This strain of mould, he said, is new and so far there is no cure.

"We could be looking at extinction of kauri in the ranges."

Mr Edgar said mapping showed some areas in the 16,000ha park, where tracks were less well used, seemed free of the disease.

He said the Auckland Regional Council should close these tracks to protect healthy kauri by isolating them.

The council was asking people to clean their boots but there was no proof this was effective.

A joint agency has been formed to respond to the disease after it was officially identified as a deadly new form of phytopthora last year.

The agency includes the ARC, Department of Conservation, MAF Biosecurity and local authorities.

Joint agency spokesman David Yard said closing parks and reserves was an option: "But it's pretty drastic ... to shut tracks would affect the ability of people to enjoy the forest."

The agency had no proof that the disease was spreading out of control from forest to forest.

"We will continue to raise awareness to the public and trampers to be responsible."

Mr Yard said a long-term plan to manage the disease was being formed and there was a lot more to find out about how the disease was spread.

The ARC is likely to consider the society's request next month.

A report to the ARC parks committee said the joint agency was given information on costs for managing the disease, including track upgrades and killing feral pigs in the ranges.

DIEBACK DISEASE

What?
A water mould (phytopthora) causes the collar rot fatal to kauri. No known cure. It spreads through soil and water from plant to plant and is carried by humans and animals.

Where?
Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, Waipoua Forest Northland, Great Barrier Island.

Prevention: Clean dirt off shoes, stay on tracks away from tree roots, keep dogs on leash.