Myrtle rust still a big threat: MPI

While there are still only two confirmed cases of myrtle rust in the Far North, officials are urging residents to remain vigilant around reporting sightings of the highly contagious disease.

On May 12, Ministry for Primary Industries placed legal controls on plant nurseries associated with the current myrtle rust situation, requiring them to continue to follow approved hygiene measures to manage any risk of spreading the fungal plant disease.

The controls make it mandatory for all plant producers and retailers in the Kerikeri area, and those businesses around NZ that have received high-risk plants from the affected Kerikeri Plant Production, to follow MPIapproved management protocols.

MPI response director Geoff Gwyn says this will apply to around 45 nurseries nationwide. ‘‘This should not require a significant change in the way the nurseries do business. It will, however, give them long term certainty about how to effectively manage any risk associated with their business.’’

The disease was first found at Kerikeri Plant Production nursery on May 2, followed by a neighbouring residential property. The threat is not only to native trees like pohutukawa and manuka; it can also attack common plants.

MPI operational coordination manager Mark Bateman says all other samples that have been tested so far have been negative. MPI has more than 100 staff checking high risk sites, he says. DOC, Northland Regional Council, iwi and growers are also involved.

So far about 109 properties have been checked in the immediate area, along with the majority of nurseries in and around Kerikeri. Once they’ve been cleared, sites that have been raised through the MPI hotline will determine where the search goes next, Bateman says. Kerikeri Plant Production owner Tom Lindesay says he expects to be closed for another few weeks. ’’We’re hoping that they’ll get on with it. It’s pretty hard.’’

Redwoods Garden Centre manager Sandy Johnson says the outbreak is ‘‘awful but it’s been reasonably well handled.’’ ‘‘Everyone understands the need for being careful, they understand the implications of it.’’

Symptoms include yellow powdery eruptions on the leaf.