Northland ratepayers are funding greater efforts toward fighting kauri dieback after policy changes made by Northland Regional Council.
Bruce Howse, Environmental Services group manager, said the council has tripled its previous annual kauri dieback funding to almost $300,000, effective since July 1.
The boost means Northland Regional Council (NRC) can increase staff numbers to respond to and help manage the disease on private land.
The recently-adopted Long Term Plan 2018-2028 (LTP) and its Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP) contain a range of measures and funding to tackle the kauri-killing disease.
After the RPMP was challenged by Forest and Bird in the Environment Court, the NRC made changes to it — and became one of the first local authorities in New Zealand with rules specifically about kauri dieback.