Deadly Kauri Rot Not in New Plymouth District

Test results have shown that a deadly new disease affecting kauri around the upper half of the North Island has so far not turned up in New Plymouth District.

However park users must still take care to not bring the fungal disease into the area.

In October kauri trees in Pukekura Park’s kauri grove and Barrett Domain’s Fred Cowling Plantation were found to be bleeding sap from their trunks.

Samples sent off for testing confirmed one disease, honey fungus (Armillaria sp), which New Plymouth District Council started treating in November.

Now the Crown research institute Scion has confirmed there is no evidence of Phytophthora taxon agathis (kauri rot).

“That’s a relief because there is no known cure for kauri rot, which has been described as the didymo of the forest,” says Manager Parks Programmes Steve McGill.

“But we’re not out of the woods at all. Fungal diseases are very easily spread on people’s shoes and dogs’ paws so we need people to keep to the formed tracks along our walkways and not walk among the trees.

“It’s particularly important at this time of year when so many visitors are in Taranaki – people who perhaps have walked in forests in their own areas, not aware of what fungal spores might be carried by their shoes.”

The simple steps to help prevent the spread of any fungal diseases are:

Keep yourself and your dogs to the walking track – don’t walk among the trees.
Wash your shoes thoroughly after visiting forest areas.
“Both kauri grove and the Fred Cowling Plantation have warning signs in place, but please follow these steps no matter which forest or bush walkway you’re in,” says Mr McGill.

“Keep in mind that honey fungus attacks more than just kauri.”

The Council is keeping an eye on other kauri plantations in the district – as well as street trees, and trees in parks and on private land – which so far have not shown any sign of honey fungus or kauri rot.

The honey fungus was caught early in the city’s two kauri plantations, and the Council is trialling a new treatment technique recommended by a bio-deterioration consultant.

It will be another six to 12 months before it is known if the treatment is effective.