kauri dieback The facts on taxon (PTA)

What is Phytophthora taxon Symptoms of have also Will parks or reserves be closed? Agathis? been observed at Cascade Kauri in the At this stage there are no plans to close Waitakeres and other sites in Rodney, Commonly known as PTA, Phytophthora parks or reserves, but it is something we Franklin, Waitakere and the North taxon Agathis is a microscopic fungus- may have to consider in the future. Shore, as well as Pakiri, Albany, Okura like plant pathogen (a disease causing and the . What is being done? agent) that only affects kauri. Recent research has identified PTA as a distinct What can we do to stop it A collaborative response to kauri dieback and previously undescribed species of spreading? is underway that includes MAF Phytophthora. Biosecurity New Zealand, the › Make sure shoes, tyres and Department of Conservation, Auckland What does it do to kauri trees? equipment are clean of dirt before Regional Council, Northland Regional and after visiting kauri forest. Symptoms include yellowing of foliage, Council, Environment and › Clean shoes and any other equipment loss of leaves, canopy thinning and dead Environment . that comes into contact with soil branches. Affected trees can also after every visit, especially if moving Agencies are working together to protect develop lesions that bleed resin, between bush areas. high value kauri areas and iconic kauri extending to the major roots and › Keep to defined park tracks at all trees. The Kauri Dieback Response Team sometimes girdling the trunk as a times. Any movement of soil around is currently: “collar rot”. PTA can kill trees and the roots of a tree has the potential seedlings of all ages. › Assessing the risk posed by the to spread the disease. organism to individual trees and How is it spread? › Keep your dog on a leash at all their ecosystem. times. Dogs can inadvertently spread PTA is believed to be a soil-borne › Determining methods and their the disease if they disturb the soil species spread by soil and soil water feasibility to limit the spread of the around the trees. movement, plant to plant transmission pathogen through the application of appropriate measures. through underground root-to-root What should I do if I have kauri › Collecting further information to contact, and human and animal vectors. on my land? inform a response decision (how Where did it come from? › Minimise movement around kauri widespread and what we can do about it). Formally identified in April 2008, its tree roots. Ensuring a coordinated inter-agency closest known relative is a chestnut › Keep dogs and animals away from › approach to Phytophthora taxon pathogen from Korea (Phytophthora kauri trees. Agathis including the appropriate katsurae). The assumption is that it is › Download a warning sign and put it management of communications and an exotic pathogen. However nothing is up to alert visitors to the dangers of information. known about this particular species spreading the disease. This can be overseas. laminated to make it more durable. › If you think your trees have PTA Contact us Where is it? symptoms contact the Kauri Dieback For more information, or to report any Response Team on 0800 NZ KAURI PTA has been found at Huia and suspect sightings of diseased kauri on (695 2874). Maungaroa Ridge in the Waitakere public or private land, phone the Ranges Regional Park and at Department Kauri Dieback Response Team on of Conservation reserves at Great 0800 NZ KAURI (695 2874) or visit Barrier and Trounson Kauri Park in www.kauridieback.co.nz Northland.

The collaborative effort to address kauri dieback includes MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, the Department of Conservation, Auckland Regional Council, Northland Regional Council, Environment Waikato, Environment Bay of Plenty and Maori kauri dieback management team 0800 NZ KAURI (695 2874) or www.kauridieback.co.nz