There will also be active monitoring and testing<\/a> of the ng\u0101here (bush) for further disease.<\/p>\n The fungus-like organism causing kauri dieback, phytophthora agathidicida<\/a>, infects the root system, preventing trees from taking in vital nutrients. <\/p>\n Signs of infected trees include yellowing leaves, dead branches and lesions which bleed gum.<\/p>\n The phytophthora spreads by the movement of soil or water, with humans and animals being vectors<\/a>, and can be spread by root contact of infected trees.<\/p>\n The disease is almost always fatal to infected kauri trees<\/a>, with no known resistance or cure.<\/p>\n The discovery has disappointed H\u014dri Parata (Ng\u0101ti Koror\u0101, Ng\u0101tiwai, te wh\u0101nau o te Hinetapu), who is part of Ng\u0101tiwai Trust Board\u2019s Kauri Dieback Team.<\/p>\n While kauri dieback has been around for many years, he blamed the spread on people walking through infected areas.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople want to go for a walk, sure, but you\u2019re going around poisoning the place as you go.\u201d<\/p>\n Parata wanted to see the park managed in a way that took into account He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.<\/p>\n Phoenix Ruka, chairman of council\u2019s Te K\u0101rearea Strategic Partnership Committee, sent an email to mana whenua and other stakeholders on Friday to explain the discovery.<\/p>\n Kauri hold deep spiritual significance<\/a> to tangata whenua, and the wider community, as tupuna (ancestors) and kaitiaki (guardians), he explained.<\/p>\n \u201cWe take this discovery extremely seriously,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cOur priority is to act responsibly, transparently, and in partnership to minimise risk and protect our taonga species and wider ng\u0101here.\u201d<\/p>\n Ruka said the work will include tikanga processes guided by kuia and kaum\u0101tua.<\/p>\n The council will engage with hap\u016b, mana whenua, Department of Conservation and specialists such as Kauriology and Kauri Ora, to work out risk mitigation and longer-term management.<\/p>\n Auckland Council, which has experience managing kauri dieback in its Wait\u0101kere Ranges<\/a>, has also been approached to give advice.<\/p>\n AH Reed forms part of Whang\u0101rei\u2019s popular H\u0101tea River Walkway<\/a>.<\/p>\nAH Reed Memorial Kauri Park contains kauri trees up to 500 years old, which can be viewed from a raised walkway. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n
A kauri dieback wash station was installed at AH Reed Memorial Kauri Park in 2018. Pictured from left are then-Department of Conservation workers Richard Greenhill and Clayton Blackwood, and Jerome Luiten from NZ Track Works. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n