KEY POINTS:
People heading into the bush are being urged by conservation agencies to prevent spreading a disease that is attacking kauri trees.
Phytophthora taxon Agathis (PTA), is believed to be spread by the movement of soil.
Kauri Dieback joint agency response manager Fiona Bancroft urged people to stick to defined tracks in parks and reserves, clean their footwear, tyres and any equipment that comes into contact with soil before and after leaving areas of kauri forest, and avoid disturbing the roots of kauri trees.
In some areas, such as the Coromandel ranges, there were no signs of the disease and it was important that people moving between forests followed the advice to keep such areas disease-free.
"Kauri forests are an essential part of New Zealand's ecosystem and home to many other trees, plants and threatened wildlife," Ms Bancroft said.
"We all need to act now to prevent [kauri rot's] spread."
Symptoms included resin bleeding, yellowing leaves and thinning of canopies.
- NZPA
