PRESS RELEASE: Kauri Die Back
23 January 2013
During the 1950s there were probably very few people who looked at and studied kauri as closely as New Zealand’s
foremost painter Colin McCahon.
He would look up at the majestic trees that surrounded his little bach in French Bay Titirangi, blur his eyes to
simplify the outlines of the trees and then proceeded to paint numerous paintings of the tall pillars which are such a
feature of the Waitakere forests.
These days there are many more eyes turned on the kauri, not however to depict their splendour, but to try and preserve
them.
At the end of this month two of the very trees that so inspired McCahon are being carefully cut down. They have both
succumbed to the kauri dieback disease which is attacking kauri in the Waitakere Ranges and elsewhere. A number of other
kauri around the restored bach are also infected and the McCahon House Trust which has faithfully restored the little
bach and fosters today’s artists in a residency next door, is working closely with Auckland Biosecurity to try to halt
the course of the disease and to stop its spread through important artistic heritage site.
Anyone walking in areas of kauri can help minimise the spread of this disease by washing their footwear at cleaning
stations provided at many parks or at home between forest visits. Make the effort, for it would be very sad if future
generations were only able to experience the wonder of these trees through photographs and the works of artists like
Colin McCahon.
ENDS