20 May 2019

The Department of Conservation (DOC) and Te Roroa (kaitiaki over Waipoua Forest) have announced that the Four Sisters Walk has temporarily closed. This is due to the discovery of the kauri dieback pathogen, Phytophthora agathidicida (PA), in the near vicinity.

New test results from recent soil samples were positive for two sites at the stand of kauri trees named ‘the Four Sisters’. The walk will close until further notice from today, Monday May 20, and will be monitored for unauthorised visitor usage. The walks to Tāne Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere remain open.

DOC Northern North Island Operations Director Sue Reed-Thomas says DOC and Te Roroa are working in partnership to manage the disease at the Four Sisters.

“The immediate closure of the track is the best way to protect the kauri until an informed decision is made on future infrastructure at the site. People should understand that if they access the closed track, and the surrounding site, they are putting our kauri at great risk.”

“Waipoua Forest already has limited public access and most visitors use the formed tracks. To help protect the forest’s kauri, it’s important for visitors to stick to the open tracks and clean their footwear thoroughly before entering and leaving,” says Sue Reed-Thomas.

Te Roroa staff conducted the soil sampling in February to establish how close the disease was to the Four Sisters.

Snow Tane, General Manager for Te Roroa, says that although most visitors to the Four Sisters are well behaved, a small number step off the boardwalk and risk spreading the disease.

Alan Nesbit, Chair of the Te Roroa Manawhenua Trust is extremely concerned an iconic stand of trees, such as the Four Sisters in Waipoua, is impacted by kauri dieback. The trust, through its technical advisory group, is monitoring the situation closely at Kauri Walks.

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