One of the Coromandel Peninsula’s oldest and most treasured kauri trees has tested positive for Phytophthora agathidicida (PA), the microscopic pathogen responsible for kauri dieback disease, prompting renewed calls for the public to help protect the remaining ancient forests.
Soil testing has confirmed the presence of the disease at the Long Bay Kauri Walk, near Coromandel township, where the estimated 1,200-year-old tree has been monitored since 2023 after visitors reported visible signs of declining health.
Waikato Regional Council Biosecurity and Biodiversity Manager Patrick Whaley described the confirmation as deeply disappointing.
He said the Coromandel Peninsula has recorded relatively few cases of kauri dieback compared with northern regions, making the discovery particularly significant because of both the age of the tree and its accessibility to the public.
Southern kauri forests have remained comparatively free from the disease, making them increasingly important for the long-term survival of the species.
Microscopic Threat with Devastating Consequences
Phytophthora agathidicida is spread through the movement of contaminated soil carried on footwear, equipment, vehicles and animals.
The pathogen attacks a kauri’s roots, preventing the tree from absorbing water and nutrients. Over time, infected trees weaken, with symptoms including bleeding gum at the base of the trunk, yellowing leaves, thinning canopies and dead branches before eventually dying.
Detecting the disease remains difficult because the pathogen survives in small, uneven pockets of soil that can easily be missed during testing.
While council staff had long suspected the ancient tree may have kauri dieback based on its condition, confirmation only came after extensive soil testing.
Treatment Underway, But Future Uncertain
The affected tree has already received phosphite injections, a treatment designed to suppress the pathogen and strengthen the tree’s natural defences.
Another treatment is planned later this year.
However, Mr Whaley said the health of the tree has deteriorated significantly over the past twelve months and acknowledged the treatment is not a cure.
Instead, the goal is to prolong the tree’s life while reducing the risk of further spread throughout the reserve.
The pathogen can survive in soil for more than eight years, and infected trees may not display symptoms for many years or even decades after infection.
Years of Prevention Efforts
The discovery comes despite years of preventative work by Waikato Regional Council, Thames-Coromandel District Council and local iwi to protect the reserve.
Measures have included constructing boardwalks to keep visitors away from sensitive root systems, fencing to exclude livestock, installing footwear cleaning stations and hygiene signage, and running seasonal track ambassador programmes to educate visitors about protecting kauri.
Further surveillance and soil sampling are now underway, with additional public education signage planned.
Protecting a Taonga
Waikato Regional Council Chair Warren Maher said protecting kauri remains both a regional and national responsibility.
He urged visitors to stay on designated tracks, respect barriers and ensure footwear is clean before entering and leaving kauri forests.
For Māori, kauri are far more than iconic native trees. They are taonga, carrying deep cultural, spiritual and ecological significance while supporting complex forest ecosystems that sustain countless native plants and animals.
As conservation agencies and iwi continue working to slow the spread of kauri dieback, officials say every visitor has a role to play in protecting these ancient giants for future generations.
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