News

Our precious Kauri are dying, right here on our doorstep in Auckland.  It’s a massive problem, and it is easy to think we are powerless to prevent it happening.  But actually there are many ways each one of us can help stop the spread of this disease, and if we want our grandkids to be able to experience the grandeur of our Kauri, please join Landcare on an Awhitu field trip at Labour Weekend to learn more about how you can help save them.  

 The Kauri is a tree that has so much meaning to both Maori and Pakeha alike, recognized by many of us as our forest superstar. Tane mahuta, over 2000 years old, has stood sentry over the entire history of human occupation of these islands. The massive trunks of these trees could carry over 100 warriors when hollowed out for waka and the straightness of them made them ideal for boat spars for early colonists.  Kauri gum was one of our early exports.  The milling of these trees allowed the construction of our beautiful villas that line Auckland streets. 

 As a very recently identified disease, the knowledge base surrounding Kauri Dieback disease changes almost weekly.  We are fortunate to have one of the country’s foremost experts, Dr Nick Waipara from Auckland Biosecurity, to talk to us, before we walk across a farm on the Awhitu Peninsula to see for ourselves the damage this disease is doing. Parking is planned to be off the main Awhitu Road, at Pigeon Hill just north of Fielding Road - watch out for the signs.  And please check Awhitu Landcare’s facebook page or website closer to the date, in case the parking location has to change - mud, mud and more mud at the moment is making it difficult for us to finalise this.

 Please bring stout footwear that can be disinfected (gumboots!)

 If you have Kauri on your property that you don’t want to see gradually dying, this workshop is a must.