Dieback disease closes Waipoua track

The Department of Conservation and Te Roroa, as kaitiaki over Waipoua Forest, have closed the Four Sisters track, temporarily but until further notice, following the discovery of the kauri dieback pathogen, Phytophthora agathidicida, in soil samples taken at two sites in the vicinity of the stand of kauri trees known as the Four Sisters.

The track was closed on Monday, and will be monitored for unauthorised use.

DoC Northern North Island operations director Sue Reed-Thomas said both parties were working to manage the disease at the Four Sisters.

“The immediate closure of the track is the best way to protect the kauri until an informed decision is made on future infrastructure at the site. People should understand that if they access the closed track, and the surrounding site, they are putting our kauri at great risk,” she said.

“Waipoua Forest already has limited public access, and most visitors use the formed tracks. To help protect the forest’s kauri, it’s important for visitors to stick to the open tracks and clean their footwear thoroughly before entering and leaving.”

Te Roroa staff conducted the soil sampling in February to establish how close the disease was to the Four Sisters.

Snow Tane, general manager for Te Roroa, said that although most visitors were well behaved, a few left the boardwalk, and so risked spreading the disease.

The walks to Ta¯ne Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere remain open.