Tāne Mahuta may soon be infected with Kauri's deadly disease

Mahuta, New Zealand's largest kauri tree, could be infected with the deadly killer disease in less than a year and the management of the crisis must be removed from MPI, according to a scientist.

The tree is an important part of Northland. Tourism offer and is held in the Waipoua Forest for over two millennia. The name of Tāne Mahuta (Lord of the Forest) goes back to the Maori legend of the creation of the earth and refers to the separation of earth and heaven.

Amanda Black of the Bioprotection Research Center at the University of Lincoln says the crisis The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), which she says has muzzled scientists who study fungal disease, is partly responsible for its rapid spread

Kauri dieback disease is 100% deadly for trees and has already been confirmed a few meters away from Tane Mahuta.

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Jack Craw, the former chief of biosafety at the Auckland Council, said the spread of the disease was the worst biosecurity incident that occurred. he has known during his 40 years in the industry.

"It's as if HIV and Ebola (for trees) were united in one."

Black was asked to examine the science around the disease three years ago. The ministry then told him not to tell anyone outside MPI about his findings.

Researchers studying the issue at the crown research institutes have also been "muzzled," she said.

Black said that there was so much secrecy around the science produced that MPI could double its funding for research and the public. I would not know.

The situation management by MPI was a "dog breakfast" and a Royal Commission was needed to investigate what was wrong, she said.

"I'm sure we could be innovative and save cash if we were not"

Craw stated that the Waipoua Forest, north of Dargaville, was to be closed immediately and that the responsibility to treat the disease "divorced" of MPI and was entrusted to a charity trust directed by iwi

. do not make that you are doomed. "

MPI's initial response to illness started well but has become "a disaster" over the past four years, he said, a sentiment shared by several scientists ] spoke to.

The response to the disease should be borne by iwi who better understood what was needed to prevent the spread of the disease,

Craw stated that the conflict between MPI's biosecurity and the responsibilities of the primary industry was untenable. .

There were claims the relationship between the Department of Conservation and the iwi with tutelage over the Waipoua Forest, Te Roroa, had broken down on the response to the spread of dieback in the forest.

However, the relationship could be a more positive track since the election of the new government, Craw said.

This week, MPI holds seven public meetings on the issue of kauri dieback.

Craw stated that the rapid spread of the disease meant that the forest could have a few months before it was beyond scientific aid.

His last visit to the forest showed that 20-30 more trees – the "giants" of the species – were dead.

Blacks said that infected trees should be slaughtered to try to stop the spread of the disease.

"You do not need drone surveys, you can see it with your eyes."

"You can see the dead and dying trees."

Stuff wrote a comment to MPI.

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