Myrtle rust discovered in Auckland’s Waitā kere Ranges for the first time

Myrtle rust has been discovered in usually the Waitākere Ranges for the first time. Photo / File

A candica disease that could make extinct some of Cool new Zealand’s treasured native plants ıs discovered in the Waitākere Ranges.

Auckland Council announced today myrtle rust had been discovered initially within the boundaries of the Waitākere Selections Regional Park in the ramarama kind.

Councillor and simply Environment and Climate Change committee chair Richard Hills said it was eventually “not a matter of if, but when” the wind-borne fungus found throughout much of the country would arrive another.

“Despite the exact inevitability, this will be distressing for many one’s communities who are concerned that our indigenous taonga could be affected, ” Slopes said.

Myrtle rust was first discovered in New Zealand in 2017, having blown in excess of from Australia’s East Coast, anywhere it has led to localised extinctions on the inside myrtle species.

It has gradually spread across the country, developing to particularly affect ramarama, your own native shrub that grows almost eight to 10 metres high.

Near the end within last year East Coast Department on-line Conservation ranger Graeme Atkins found out about mature ramarama dying from the virus – the first cases in the country over mature native trees dying , and sparking fears of localised extinctions.

Myrtle rust may infect hundreds of species in the vegetable family Myrtaceae, which in New Zealand includes mānuka, pōhutukawa, rātā as well as , kānuka.

Right after established on a host tree in addition to shrub, it destroys new production and soft tissues, in some cases place killing the plant.

To date, pōhutukawa has not been badly controlled in the Auckland region.

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Auckland Council’s Environmental Features and Regional Parks teams remain assessing the site to implement a proper management response.

“That may include removing the irritated plants to protect other plants nicely we may decide on taking no further action, ” natural environment delivery manager Phil Brown said.

If people come across myrtle oxidation they should not touch or creep into close contact with the plant to prevent spreading the fungal spores.

People are encouraged to take image and use the iNaturalist app , in areas experts can confirm the infection.