About Phytophthora agathidicida
Phytophthora agathidicida (PA) is a soil-borne pathogen which infects and kills kauri trees. It spreads via infected soil movement. That soil may be moved:
- on footwear and other clothing and gear
- on vehicles driven in affected areas
- by animals – including wild pigs, stock, and pets.
Kauri trees can be infected for a long time before they show any signs of the sickness. Controlling the spread of Phytophthora agathidicida is critical to ensuring kauri are protected.
Find out more protecting kauri from disease
Controlled Area Notices in place
Controlled Area Notices are in place in the Auckland region:
- on certain open tracks on the Waitākere Ranges (from 1 May 2018)
- in parts of the Hūnua Ranges (from 1 May 2018)
- in the Goldie Bush Scenic Reserve (from 18 October 2018).
This is to help stop the spread of Phytophthora agathidicida. They were put in place under Section 131 of the Biosecurity Act 1993.
The Controlled Area Notices mean there are certain things you must do when visiting these areas.
Visiting the Waitākere Ranges
When visiting the Waitākere Ranges, you can't take footwear, equipment or other items with visible soil into or out of the walking tracks that are Controlled Areas. To help you comply, you must also use all cleaning stations that you encounter and follow any instructions at the site.
Before you visit the Waitākere Ranges, check the Auckland Council's website to find out what tracks are open and subject to the Controlled Area Notice.
Protect our kauri trees – Auckland Council
You may be prosecuted if you don't comply with a Controlled Area Notice. Note, there may be video surveillance in the area.
Learn more about the Waitākere Ranges Controlled Area Notice conditions [PDF, 2.6 MB]
View a map of Waitākere Ranges Controlled Area [PDF, 2.4 MB]
View a map of the Waitākere Ranges western controlled area [PDF, 1.1 MB]
View a map of the Waitākere Ranges eastern controlled area [PDF, 1.1 MB]
Visiting the Hūnua Ranges
When visiting the Hūnua Ranges, you can't take footwear, equipment or other items with visible soil into the Controlled Areas. You must use all cleaning stations you encounter and follow any instructions at the site.
Before you visit the Hūnua Ranges, check the Auckland Council's website to find out what tracks are open and subject to the Controlled Area Notice.
Protect our kauri trees – Auckland Council
You may be prosecuted if you don't comply with a Controlled Area Notice. Note: there may be video surveillance in the area.
Learn more about the Hūnua Ranges Controlled Area Notice conditions [PDF, 4.4 MB]
View a map of the Hūnua Ranges controlled area [PDF, 1.7 MB]
View a map of the Hūnua Ranges eastern controlled area [PDF, 951 KB]
View a map of the Hūnua Ranges western controlled area [PDF, 1018 KB]
Visiting the Goldie Bush Scenic Reserve
There is currently no public access allowed in Goldie Bush Scenic Reserve.
The Department of Conservation, together with Te Kawerau ā Maki, closed all tracks in Goldie Bush Scenic Reserve and Motutara Settlement Scenic Reserve from 4 December 2020 until further notice to protect kauri in the reserve. Unauthorised access to the reserve could result in fines or prosecution.
Note: there may be video surveillance in the area.
Learn more about the Goldie Bush Controlled Area Notice conditions [PDF, 1.4 MB]
View a map of Goldie Bush controlled area [PDF, 615 KB]
Remove all visible soil
Follow all instructions in the controlled areas. Where allowed, you can only take the following items into or out of the Waitākere Ranges or into the Hūnua Ranges controlled areas if they are free of all visible soil:
- personal effects, including footwear, walking poles, camera tripods, and camping gear
- vehicles and conveyances, including motorbikes, bicycles, and baby buggies
- companion animals, including dogs and horses
- tools and research apparatus.
Cleaning stations are designed to clean footwear, and some can clean bicycles. You will need to make sure you make your own arrangements to clean other items to make sure they are free of all visible soil.
Find out more
Video surveillance privacy notice [PDF, 283 KB]
Tiakina Kauri – Kauri Protection
Who to contact
If you have questions about the information on this page, email info@mpi.govt.nz or kauriprotection@mpi.govt.nz