The Department of Conservation is rolling out footwear cleaning stations and upgrading tracks at popular forests to try to stop the spread of Kauri Dieback.
Kauri are among the world's mightiest trees, growing to over 50 metres tall, with trunk girths up to 16m and living for more than 2000 years. Photo: 123RF
The fungus-like disease is killing Kauri forests in the upper North Island. Microscopic spores infect the trees' roots, stopping them from absorbing nutrients and water. It eventually starves the trees.
It affects Kauri trees of all ages.
Kauri Dieback Project manage Richard Balm said the disease spread through soil on people's shoes or on their equipment such as cars, motorbikes or mountain bikes.
With no known cure, DOC wants to contain the disease.
Kauri Dieback is killing the native trees in North Island forests. Photo: Supplied
Staff installed boardwalks and raised paths on 26 high-priority tracks in the North Island to keep the track dry and mud free.
Conservation Minister Maggie Barry said DOC planned work on a further 150 kilometres of track as part of the three-year programme.
It might look rudimentary, but this footwear cleaning station could save Kauri Forests. Photo: Supplied
The most basic solution is known as the barrel and grate cleaning station, where people scrub their footwear and spray it with disinfectant.
Bigger, more efficient stations have been developed to handle several people at a time. They have been tested at four sites in north Auckland and Coromandel.
"Instead of squirting your shoes, you stand on a mat, which wets your shoes with a disinfectant after you've cleaned them with the brushes," he said.
Mr Balm said the stations were quite bright and industrial looking.
"It's saying to visitors and people using the forests, that this is a serious issue and the government is taking it seriously," he said.
Once final testing and modifications were complete by March, the stations - which cost about $5000 each - will be installed at high-use sites throughout 2017.
The more modest barrel and grate cleaning stations were being updated and would continue to be used at less popular sites.
Bigger, flasher cleaning stations are being tested at four sites. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
