New finds in Northland prove myrtle rust never sleeps

RUST HUNT: Members of a multi-agency biosecurity response team checking for signs of myrtle rust soon after its discovery in Kerikeri last year.

Myrtle rust has been discovered in two new sites in the Kerikeri and Mangawhai areas.

Kerikeri was the first place in mainland New Zealand the disease was found last year and there are now more than 50 infected trees over 20 sites covering 600ha in the district alone.

The Northland Regional Council (NRC) said that over the past few days tests had confirmed several new sites in Kerikeri and Mangawhai.

The finds come just a month after the Government announced that – given the prevalence of the rust across susceptible parts of New Zealand – the fight against it was ''changing gear''.

That gear change is prompted by the impossibility of containing the wind-borne disease.

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A huge national effort over the past year saw more than 95,000 plants inspected and several thousand destroyed.

"We have signalled for a while the likely need to change gear from intensive surveillance and the removal and destruction of host plants to one where we look to manage the disease over the long term," Ministry for Primary Industries spokeswoman Dr Catherine Duthie said.

The rust affects plants in the myrtle family, which includes iconic species like pohutukawa, manuka and rata, Kane McElrea, NRC biosecurity manager, said. It's also commonly found on ramarama, known as bubble leaf.

Myrtle rust spores are microscopic and easily spread across large distances by wind, insects, birds, people or machinery.

If anyone discovers what they think are symptoms, it's extremely important not to touch the suspicious plant, McElrae said.

"If you have a camera or phone camera, take clear photos, including the whole plant, the whole affected leaf, and a close-up of the spores or affected area of the plant."

MPI's national focus would now be on a science programme to learn more about myrtle rust and its treatment.

A second key focus would be working with communities, iwi, local governments, plant industries and communities to develop regional programmes.

The Department of Conservation would focus on seed collection to secure the future of native myrtle plants, monitor impacts and protect ecologically and culturally significant sites.

Northlanders can report possible myrtle rust cases to MPI's Exotic Pest and Disease Hotline; (0800) 809 966.