Understanding myrtle rust
Plants in the myrtle family include New Zealand's native pōhutukawa, mānuka, rātā, and some ornamental/non-native garden plants like feijoa, bottlebrush and lilly pilly.
Myrtle rust spores are microscopic and travel large distances by wind and can be transported by insects, birds, people, or machinery.
Biosecurity New Zealand is not actively managing myrtle rust disease or monitoring notifications of myrtle rust. Once myrtle rust became widely distributed in New Zealand, a decision was made in 2018 to stop attempts to manage it and limit spread due to the lack of control tools and because it is spread widely by the wind.