Auckland Council says kauri dieback is moving slower than previously thought, but remains a looming threat to Aotearoa's iconic native tree.
The survey findings will support further interventions to protect kauri within the Waitākere Ranges Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
Results from a survey of 68,000 kauri trees in the Waitākere Ranges showed the disease remained limited to small areas along the park's edge.
The council said it was pleased by the results, which suggest the pathogen takes longer to spread than originally feared.
"This is encouraging news for our kauri," said Councillor Richard Hills, who chairs the Environment and Climate Change Committee. "It is pleasing to know that large stands remain unaffected and there is hope for the next generation of kauri."
Just over half the trees remain in good health, with another 28 percent growing slower than expected.
But the threat remains, Hills said, as the disease gradually spreads between kauri. One of every six trees showed symptoms of dieback, particularly those near timber sites or along the coast.
Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust board member Edward Ashby said a holistic Mātauranga Māori approach to environmental health was key.
"It's not just the presence of a pathogen in isolation, but more the combination of the harmful ways we interact with nature that degrades the thread of life," he said.
Auckland Council said the findings would support further interventions to protect kauri and slow dieback within the Waitākere Ranges.
It said the results support the precautionary approach the Council has taken thus far.
"This supports the continuation of the strategies to slow or stop the spread," says Kauri Dieback Manager Lisa Tolich.
"The hope is in future surveys, we will see these young trees survive and continue on their way to maturity."