Kauri rescue effort gets Tree Fund boost

Northland iwi Ngāti Rēhia’s efforts to protect kauri from dieback disease have been boosted by a grant of up the $6.25 million for a new sanctuary.

Forestry Minister Shane Jones says the iwi is attempting to create New Zealand’s first bio-secure kauri sanctuary.

Since 2018 it has been clearing land at Takou Bay, building fences, testing the soil and adhering to biosecurity measures to ensure it is free of kauri dieback.

Mr Jones says with no cure for the disease yet found, such initiatives may be the only way protect the taonga species.

Today’s funding announcement means Ngāti Rēhia can now move ahead with establishing pest-proof fencing;

• Creating boardwalks and other requirements for biosecurity such as installing and improving existing quarantine stations
• Further land clearing and planting;
• and training iwi members to become kaitiaki of their lands.

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