National Plan rules
The National Plan for Kauri has introduced 10 rules to help protect Kauri from the PA pathogen that causes kauri dieback disease.
Kauri are a taonga (treasure) of Aotearoa New Zealand and the third largest conifer in the world. Living for 600 years on average and growing to immense proportions, Kauri are ‘ecosystem engineers’, creating habitats and homes for our native birds and plants.
Kauri are threatened by a soil-borne pathogen called Phytophthora agathidicida (PA for short). This pathogen infects Kauri trees through their roots and restricts the ability to transport water and nutrients between the roots and the leaves, causing the condition known as kauri dieback disease, which eventually starves the tree.
Give Kauri space to grow
To preserve Kauri for generations to come, we need to give them space to grow. From 2 August 2022, 10 new rules were introduced as part of a National Plan to help protect Kauri from the PA pathogen. The priority is to protect Kauri forests and stands (groups) of Kauri trees.
A summary of the new rules is below.
The full Plan is here: National PA Pest Management Plan
If you go into a Kauri forest
- You must use all hygiene stations you encounter in the forest. (Rule 9)
- If you are going off track or onto a track where you will touch the forest floor, you must clean all visible soil and organic matter off items that may touch the ground, both before you enter and when you leave the forest. Items considered a risk include tools, cars, bikes, sticks, shoes, gloves etc. (Rule 8)
- You may not release animals into Kauri forest areas. (Rule 7) Note: This doesn’t apply to either dogs under your control or to grazing animals on your farm. The latter is covered by Rule 6.
If you grow Kauri plants or trees
- All Kauri plants or trees grown from 2 August 2022 onwards must be grown according to a Kauri plant production plan if your intention is to move them off your property, as this carries a high risk of spreading the PA pathogen. (Rule 3)
If you grow Kauri, you must also follow rules 1 and 2. For more information, see Growing kauri.
If you have Kauri on land you live on or own
- Report a sick Kauri. If your Kauri trees look unhealthy, you must let Tiakina Kauri or your regional council know. (Rule 1)
- Learn to recognise disease symptoms
- From 2 August 2023, if you want to undertake any earthworks within a ‘Kauri hygiene zone’ (3x the radius of the dripline of a Kauri tree canopy – see pages 5 and 6 of the land disturbance activities best practice guidelines) you must have an earthworks risk management plan. (Rule 5)
For more information, see Land and stock.
You may also need to do the following, if requested:
- Provide information to Tiakina Kauri to help manage the disease caused by the PA pathogen. (Rule 2)
- Develop a PA risk management plan in collaboration with Tiakina Kauri, an authorised person or your local council, if it is determined that such a plan is needed to help control the spread of – or limit the effects of – the disease caused by the PA pathogen on land you own, manage, or live on. (Rule 4)
For more information, see Land and stock.
If you own land with publicly accessible tracks or roads that go through Kauri forest areas
- The National Plan has minimum requirements for publicly accessible tracks and roads that go through Kauri forest areas. (Rule 10)
For more information, see Land and stock.
If you own farm animals or stock that graze in or near a Kauri forest
- If you have farm animals or stock within 500m of a PA positive site in a Kauri forest, you will need to prevent your stock from accessing that Kauri forest area. (Rule 6)
For more information, see Land and stock.
How will the new rules work?
Tiakina Kauri is helping people understand and comply with the new rules through education and awareness programmes.
In cases of clear and substantial or continued non-compliance with the rules, prosecution or infringement fees could be applied. Fees range from $300 (Rule 8) to $400 (Rule 9). An individual or corporation could also be charged under the Biosecurity Act 1993, which could result in a criminal conviction with a maximum fine of $5,000 for an individual and $15,000 for a corporation.