Ten walking tracks in the Bay of Islands will be permanently closed this week to prevent the spread of kauri dieback disease.
The Department of Conservation made the announcement today with acting Bay of Islands operations manager Martin Akroyd saying the ten ''high-risk'' tracks had to be closed to protect kauri and stop the disease from spreading.
Eight of the 10 tracks are in the Puketi and Omahuta Forests, about midway between the Bay of Islands and Hokianga. Together they form one of the biggest tracts of native bush in Northland.
Kauri dieback disease has been confirmed in Omahuta Forest and a number of suspected cases in Puketi Forest are awaiting the results of laboratory tests.
The other two tracks are in the Russell-Ngaiotonga Forest, on the east coast south of Russell.