Kauri dieback: plan to close 24 tracks
The Department of Conservation (DOC) is proposing to close 24 tracks in the North Island in an effort to stop the further spread of kauri dieback through human contact.
A further 10 could be partially closed as the department steps up its initiatives to halt the spread of the disease, which is fatal to kauri trees.
Thirteen of the tracks to be fully closed under the proposal are in the Northland area. The remainder are in Hauraki, Tauranga, Great Barrier and Waikato.
The closures do not include the tracks that lead to giant trees Tane Mahuta or Te Matua Ngahere in the Waipoua forest.
DOC’s northern director of operations, Sue Reed-Thomas, said the decision to propose track closures was not taken lightly.
It had been considered in situations where there was a high kauri dieback risk, low visitor use, high upgrade and ongoing maintenance costs, and a similar track in the vicinity.
Human behaviour was the biggest challenge to stopping the disease from spreading.
‘‘Humans are the number one way in which the disease is spread. It is absolutely critical people understand they need to stick to the formed tracks and use cleaning stations – both here [in Northland] and at other kauri forests.’’
While most tourists were compliant, locals did not always use the footwear cleaning stations, or enter and exit the forests through approved routes, she said.
People had also been seen avoiding those cleaning stations or using nearby land, often without landowners’ permission, to enter forested areas. DOC was trying to identify the reasons for such behaviour, she said. ‘‘Social science research is key in helping us find ways to increase compliance around cleaning footwear and gear and staying on the tracks.
‘‘We need to help visitors understand what they need to do and why, so we are working on how we can build a ‘social norm’ around these issues.’’
Public input was sought on the proposal and DOC had been contacting local Treaty partners and national recreational bodies. All feedback would be considered before a final decision was made on the track closures. Specific dates would be made available on DOC’s website once the process was complete. Public submissions should be made online by August 10.