Listen: Time running out to eradicate myrtle rust

Time is running out for scientists to eradicate the potentially dangerous myrtle rust plant disease which has begun spreading throughout the country.

A nursery in Waitara, northeast of New Plymouth, is the latest site where the fungal disease has been found, hundreds of kilometres south of the two known sites in Northland.

Myrtle rust, which appears as bright yellow or orange powdery patches on leaves of myrtle plants, poses a serious threat to some of our most cherished plant species, including pohutukawa, manuka, feijoa, and rata.

Severe infections can kill plants.

Landcare research scientist Dr Andrea Byrom told Rachel Smalley this latest find is a big blow, and the window of time for eradication is very short.

"It's devastating," Byrom said. "It probably does mean that there are going to be more signs."

"But let's hope there are not more signs. It's very early days and it's still possibly eradicable."

Northland MP and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters believes the outbreak is further evidence of biosecurity failures at the border, rather than the disease being blown here from Australia.

"A chance that it came all the way across the Tasman Sea and landed...somewhat suggests this lousy excuse is designed to protect the government's appalling record on biosecurity," he said.

Feijoa Growers Association manager Ian Turk says feijoa plants are particularly vulnerable to the disease, and the industry's on edge.

"We're very concerned about having a new fungus in New Zealand that could have an impact on production from our orchards," Turk said.

"(We'll) all be out there looking for it on their trees, I'm sure."