Ten tracks in the Bay of Islands will be permanently closed this week to prevent the spread of kauri dieback disease, the Department of Conservation (DOC) can confirm.
DOC’s acting Bay of Islands operations manager Martin Akroyd says that after consultation with Treaty Partners, a decision was made to close certain high-risk tracks to protect the local kauri and stop the disease from spreading.
DOC is permanently closing the following tracks:
Puketi Forest
Mangahorehore Track
Onekura Track
Pukekohe Stream Track
Upper Waipapa River Track
Walnut Track
Waihoanga Gorge Kauri Walk
Takapau Track
Omahuta Forest
Omahuta Kauri Sanctuary Walk
Russell-Ngaiotonga Forest
Kauri Grove Walk
Twin Bole Kauri Walk
As part of the consultation, consideration was given to maintaining recreation opportunities wherever possible.
"There are still plenty of alternative walks and tramps in the Bay of Islands district including access to alternate sections of the Te Araroa Trail," says Martin.
"We urge the public to respect the closures and no longer access these tracks, otherwise they’ll be putting our kauri at great risk."
