New Zealand's first kauri dieback sniffer dogs are ready to get to work in the fight against the spread of kauri dieback in the Auckland region.
Four-year-old English Springer spaniel Pip. Photo: RNZ / Jean Bell
The super smart sniffer dogs - five-year-old Jagdterrier Mawhai and four-year-old English Springer spaniel Pip - are trained to follow their noses and identify the fungi behind kauri dieback, phytophthora agathadicida.
Since the dogs started training in February 2020, they had spent about 10 hours a week at a facility in West Auckland.
They were being phased into operation and will eventually detect the disease on goods, footwear and equipment.
Dog handler Kerryn Johnson said Mawhai and Pip - who have noses 40 times more sensitive than humans - were trained to flag when the pathogen is present through an odour recognition test.
This test involved the dog identifying a sample of kauri dieback material amongst a number of samples of other materials that the dog might come across while working, including kauri bark, soil, gloves, and other types of fungus.
When the dog found the kauri dieback sample, they were trained to sit down and were then given a treat.
Auckland Council is spending $100m over 10 years to combat kauri dieback - the dogs cost $49,000 to train.
Phil Goff says the dogs will be a valuable addition as they can instantly detect the fungus.
Phil Goff and Pip. Photo: RNZ / Jean Bell
Kauri dieback was currently tested for in a soil sample test and it can take six weeks to get results.
"If we've got a boat or ferry going over to Waiheke Island for example, we can have [the dogs] on the wharf. They'll be sniffing goods and people, and we'll be able to tell instantly if there is a problem."
Goff said the aim is to stop the spread of the incurable disease around the region, particularly to the Hūnua Ranges and islands in the Hauraki Gulf which were currently clear of the disease.
"Because there is no cure to kauri dieback, we've got to look at preventative measures."
Auckland Council kauri dieback team manager Lisa Tolich said the team was always looking for new ways to fight the disease.
With kauri forest lands extending from Northland to the Waikato, she said sniffer dogs were a cost effective way to manage inter-regional travel.
"We have ferries that will travel across from the Coromandel to some of our Auckland based ports. Those pathways are just as important as our sailings from downtown Auckland to Waiheke Island."
Anyone out enjoying walking tracks near kauri forest are urged to always follow the tracks, stay off closed areas and clean their footwear.