Threatened Kauri Highlights Need for Action

The Department of Conservation’s assessment of kauri’s status as a threatened species is timely and highlights the need for urgent action by the government before it is too late to turn the tide for this taonga.

Waipoua Forest Sanctuary still hasn't been properly surveyed and more dead trees appear every month. Trounson Park is a kauri graveyard. The disease status of most of our big kauri forests, other than in the Auckland region, still hasn't been established. The kauri dieback research programme is 5 years behind schedule.

Only a month ago the Ministry for Primary lndustries (MPI), who has managed the National Kauri Dieback Management Programme for the last 10 years, told us that everything was under control. Then 3 weeks ago they told us they need a year or more to create a National Pest Management Plan that their partner organisations iwi, DOC and the Regional Councils, begged them to do 7 years ago, but this repackaged collection of failed strategies and absentee leadership is not the answer to Biosecurity NZ prayers.

Dr Mels Barton says “We are calling for desperate measures, for MPI to immediately hand over management to a community-based organisation that actually cares about kauri and has the skills and passion to take the actions required to save this keystone species and the forest ecology that depends upon it. We do not have any more time to waste.”

“The story here is widescale species decline and a lack of adequate response by Government. The response should be Iwi, scientists, community plus agencies all wrapped up into a well resourced strategy and policy with some teeth. Outputs need to be meaningful research including social science, matauranga, partnerships, infrastructure investment, forest-safe (and alternative) public access etc.”

Edward Ashby, Executive Manager of Te Kawerau ā Maki stated "the latest report on the deterioration of our indigenous flora including the formal threatened status of kauri, highlights the need for urgent and serious action combined with investment in our native forest infrastructure and the development of a national policy statement on forest health. Saving kauri and saving other species within the ngahere are one in the same for Te Kawerau ā Maki. Our Government officials and politicians have demonstrably been asleep at the wheel for a decade and have failed. If iwi, NGOs and the community are the only ones willing to take bold action, then perhaps the Government needs to formally hand the management over to those willing to act to protect our environment for the future.”

The failure of MPI with kauri mirrors its failure with fisheries management, oyster parasite, Mycoplasma bovis and many other incursions. MPI does nothing until it is too late, then tells us that it is too late. It has lost its mandate to manage kauri dieback disease and the government must act now, not spend 2 more years watching kauri die before making change happen or we risk losing this species forever.

New Zealand’s economy, society and culture depends entirely on the quality of the environment. We cannot afford to let continued mismanagement and underinvestment destroy the goose that lays the golden egg.

ENDS

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