North Shore land to close to protect kauri

Nearly all kauri trees infected with kauri dieback disease die. Photo / File

Up to 40 hectares of public land on Auckland's North Shore will be closed off to prevent the spread of a kauri-killing disease, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry confirmed this afternoon.

Ms Barry said the Albany Scenic Reserve was infested with the spores which caused kauri dieback and would be closed until further notice.

"Closing the reserve was not a decision I took lightly, but as we go into winter the threat posed to our majestic kauri by dieback requires decisive action," Ms Barry said in a statement.

"The risk of someone unwittingly spreading the disease from Albany to healthy trees is simply too great to be ignored."

She said further closures of Department of Conservation land could be needed because of the disease.

Kauri dieback has already been detected in Northland, the Waitakere Ranges and on Great Barrier Island.

Tracks have been closed in affected areas because the spores can be picked up on trampers' footwear and spread to other areas.

Kauri dieback disease is caused by a microscopic, fungus-like organism which infects the trees' roots and damages the tissues that carry nutrients and water within the tree, effectively starving the tree to death. Nearly all infected trees die.

"Dieback has spread though the North Island forests and represents the single biggest threat the species has ever faced," Ms Barry said.

Government committed $21.6 million to fighting dieback last year, half of which would go towards improvements to walking tracks.

Ms Barry today confirmed the start of the track upgrade programme.

Around 100km of paths will be upgraded to remove mud, which can carry the disease.

And 5km of boardwalks will be installed to keep walkers' feet clear of tree roots.

Up to 300 cleaning stations will be set up at track entrances and exits.

Further investment is going into researching the disease, which currently has no cure.