Kauri dieback surveyed on Shore

Kauri dieback is ‘‘absolutely’’ a problem on the North Shore, but just how bad it is will be revealed in the next few months.

A five-yearly survey showing how much the disease has spread is currently under way across Auckland, by air and land, having started in early January.

Auckland Council biosecurity manager Phil Brown said results of the survey would be available around May or June.

Kauri dieback had been present in the North Shore for about eight years now, Brown said.

‘‘It has been here a long time. We don’t know for certain where it has come from, all we know is suddenly it has spread rapidly.’’

Albany Scenic Reserve and Okura Bush were the most readily identified areas on the North Shore with the disease, but it may have spread, Brown said.

‘‘Positively, all the bush areas around Birkenhead are, so far, free of the disease.’’

Kauri dieback is a type of fungus that gets into tree roots and over time can kill the tree. Whether the disease is naturally occurring or not remained to be seen, Brown said.

Brown said keeping to the track and using shoe-cleaning stations is imperative to preventing the spread of the disease.

The survey would be conducted using both aerial surveying and physical ground checks.

FIONA GOODALL/GETTY Kauri Dieback has been present in the North Shore for about eight years now.