KauriKonnect - kauridieback.co.nz

1 1 Kauri Konnect Winter 2018 KauriKonnectAt the end of last year, stronger measures to protect kauri were announced by Biosecurity Minister Damien O Connor and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage. This included developing a National Pest Management Plan (NPMP) the strongest form of regulation we can put in place. We are making good progress. So far there are Controlled Area Notices in place over parts of the Wait kere and Hunua Ranges to control the movement of soil and to enforce the cleaning of footwear and gear, and we ve set up a Kauri Dieback Strategic Science Advisory Group. This group is providing independent, high-level advice on the strategic direction and coordination of kauri dieback disease research. It s very clear to all of us on the Kauri Dieback Programme Governance Group that we need to move quickly to combat the spread of dieback disease and provide stronger protection for kauri.

2 That s why we ve set up the Accelerating Protection for Kauri project team has an independent panel who ll oversee its activity, which will start with a refresh of New Zealand s strategy for managing kauri dieback disease. The project will also develop the NPMP, consider improvements to programme functions, and identify ways to strengthen engagement with partners and ensure we move quickly, we are currently gathering information and considering options to speed up the establishment of a management agency to implement KauriKonnect is the newsletter of the Kauri Dieback Programme, a collaborative partnership between tangata whenua, the Ministry for Primary Industries, the Department of Conservation, Auckland Council, Waikato Regional Council, Northland Regional Council and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

3 Zoe LyleStrengthening our efforts to protect kauri2 Kauri Konnect Winter 2018the NPMP. Setting it up as a priority and running it in parallel with the development of the NPMP proposal means we are working faster to protect re making sure the NPMP development process is robust. There are opportunities for partners and communities to contribute ideas on the future protection of kauri through workshops, hui and consultations which are now getting underway. More information is available on Select CommitteeThe Environment Select Committee held meetings in Auckland and Wellington in May to hear submissions relating to kauri dieback disease. Submissions were made by programme partners and others with an interest in kauri are many individuals and groups passionate about the protection of kauri and we have always been willing to engage on this.

4 As noted above, consultation will be an important part of developing the NPMP and we d like people to get d like to express my gratitude to the many people and groups working hard to ensure the best possible outcome for kauri from tangata whenua, regional councils and central government, industry organisations, local groups and community volunteers. Thank you SmithHead of Biosecurity New Zealand andChair of the Kauri Dieback Programme Governance GroupStrengthening our efforts continuedProtection through Controlled Area NoticesOn 1 May 2018, Auckland Council closed forest areas in the Wait kere Ranges and various tracks in both the Wait kere Ranges and Hunua Ranges to help protect kauri from kauri dieback disease. At the same time, the Ministry for Primary Industries issued Controlled Area Notices (CANs) for certain open tracks in the Wait kere Ranges and parts of the Hunua use of CANs to strengthen protection for kauri was signalled as an option earlier this are introduced under the Biosecurity Act 1993, usually as an interim measure, and are there to control the movement of biosecurity risk materials in Controlled Areas in this case visible soil or plant material and enforce good hygiene practices.

5 They re legally enforceable to ensure Kauri Dieback Programme and Auckland Council are monitoring tracks covered by the CANs to see how they re working. Further information gathered will help us determine the viability of future CANs in other locations. You can find more information about them at KAURI DIEBACK TOMORROWCONTROLLED AREAS TODAY, TO help fi ght kauri dieback, Auckland Council has closed many tracks in the Waita kere Ranges. Some tracks remain open under a Controlled Area Notice. Parts of the Hunua Ranges are also under a Controlled Area Notice. Visitors using any open tracks have to scrub all visible soil from footwear and equipment, and use all cleaning stations along the tracks, as per instructions. Failure to do so may lead to we all do our part, and respect closures and Controlled Area rules today, we can help prevent kauri dieback out more at AREA UNDER SECTION 131 OF THE BIOSECURITY ACT 1993 MPI01003 Kauri Konnect Winter 2018 The creation of a new Kauri Dieback Strategic Science Advisory Group is just one approach agreed earlier this year by the Kauri Dieback Programme to better protect to get started, the group have already held their first meeting.

6 Members of the advisory group are keen to begin developing their detailed work plan and shape the long-term science strategy for kauri dieback, says Dr Ian Ferguson, Chair of the new group. Made up of experts from science organisations, tangata whenua, government agencies and from overseas, the group will contribute their scientific knowledge and experience to strengthen our efforts to protect research is a vital part of the response to kauri dieback. As more is learnt about the disease, the advisory group will be able to provide guidance and high-level strategic scientific advice to the range of priority areas for the group will help them form an enduring science plan and coordinate kauri dieback research. This work will complement the focus the programme has had to date on developing operational tools to understand, detect and manage the disease.

7 We ll keep you updated on their group priority areas Prioritisation of kauri dieback disease research efforts. Coordination of current and future kauri dieback disease science initiatives. Consider emerging technologies and ideas to manage kauri dieback disease. Identify any critical knowledge gaps and ways to fix them. Find opportunities to learn from similar research programmes in New Zealand and overseas. Provide assurance kauri dieback disease research is fit for science for kauriGathering data with a field spectrometer. Photo by J Dieback Strategic Science Advisory Group Dr Ian Ferguson, (chair) Jamie Ataria, Co-Deputy Director, Bioprotection Core, Lincoln University Lindsay Bulman, Science Leader, Forest Protection, Scion Marie McEntee, Social Scientist, University of Auckland Karyn Froud, Biosecurity Scientist Giles Hardy, Director of the Centre for Phytophthora Science and Management, Murdoch University, Perth Veronica Herrera, Director Diagnostics and Surveillance Services, MPI Ken Hughey, Departmental Science Advisor, Department of Conservation Danette Olsen, Manager Strategic Investments, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Haami Piripi, Te R nanga o Te Rarawa, Kaitaia Philippa Stevens, General Manager, Bioprotection, Plant & Food Research Nick Waipara, Te Tira Whakam taki TTW (M ori Biosecurity Network)

8 Kauri Konnect Winter 20184 PASS IT ON. Please spread the word by sending this newsletter through your networks via email or print off hardcopies to pass on to those you meet. Are you new to KauriKonnect ? Go to and put in your details at the bottom of the page you ll never miss a copy again!Three million hectares of northern New Zealand surveyedMore than three million hectares of kauri lands have been photographed from the air over the past three years, and from this around 450 sites (individual trees or clumps of trees) have been identified for possible investigation to see whether kauri dieback disease is out by the Kauri Dieback Programme, this surveillance involved flying at low levels, taking nearly a million photographs. Those sites in Northland, Auckland and Waikato will now be reviewed and prioritised by MPI, the Department of Conservation (DOC) and regional councils for further investigation.

9 One of the symptoms of kauri dieback is a yellowing and thinning canopy, says John Sanson, MPI s Group Manager, Recovery and Pest Management. This may also be caused by other things such as drought, poor soil conditions, high winds, cattle and other animal movement under the tree. In cases where kauri dieback disease is suspected, sites may be ground-truthed and soil samples potentially collected for laboratory testing. Ground-truthing is a time-consuming and costly process but at present is the best way to verify whether kauri dieback disease is actually present, says next step will involve MPI, DOC and regional councils prioritising sites and potentially undertaking ground-truthing three-quarters of the 450 sites identified are thought to be individual trees in bush areas.

10 The majority are in Whangarei/southern Northland, southern Kaipara and Rodney, while about 50 of these sites are in the Waikato and trials are underway to find a faster way to survey infected kauri trees. Until this is in place, further aerial surveys will be carried out in the future in the ongoing effort to manage kauri information about the survey work can be found at point to kauri that may have kauri dieback kauri dieback site found on Coromandel PeninsulaWaikato Regional Council says that kauri dieback disease had been found in forest on a private property at Tairua. It takes the number of Waikato locations confirmed to have kauri dieback to council is working with the landowner to prevent the spread of the disease and as an initial response, DOC has closed nearby tracks on Public Conservation Land at Lynch Stream and Twin Kauri Tracks.