Myrtle Rust
Fears myrtle rust could spread
A plant disease which could kill off native plants, like pōhutukawa, is expected to spread over the summer months.
Auckland's iconic pohutukawa trees at risk before Christmas
Scientists say they have grave fears Auckland's iconic pohutukawa trees will fall victim to the creeping myrtle rust infection. Another case of myrtle rust has been found in the city, this time on… Audio
Myrtle rust found at second property in Auckland
Myrtle rust has been found at a second property in the Auckland region.
Auckland myrtle rust case confirmed
The plant disease myrtle rust has been found in the Auckland region for the first time.
Summer brings risk of rapid myrtle rust spread
An increase in funding to combat myrtle rust disease on native trees has been welcomed by a leading plant scientist, who says warmer temperatures could let it spread rapidly.
Myrtle rust found in Waikato
Two ramarama trees on different properties in Waikato have been infected with the disease.
NZ's biosecurity system under global pressure
As biosecurity officials fight three major disease outbreaks at the same time, an expert is warning New Zealand's biosecurity system is under growing global pressure. Audio
MPI failed to engage over myrtle rust - Bay of Plenty iwi
The Ministry for Primary Industries failed to properly engage with Māori in its response to the fungal myrtle rust outbreak, some Bay of Plenty iwi say.
Myrtle rust operation intensifies in North Taranaki
The operation to contain the myrtle rust infection has stepped up a notch, with a swathe of North Taranaki now under a ban to control the movement of affected plants. The Ministry for Primary… Audio
Ban on myrtle species movements in Taranaki
A huge swathe of north Taranaki is under a ban to control the movement of plants affected by myrtle rust infection.
Geneticists join the fight against myrtle rust
Geneticists are hoping to discover genes which could protect manuka trees from myrtle rust. 46 cases of myrtle rust have been recorded in Taranaki, Northland and Bay of Plenty with Ministry of Primary… Audio
Mānuka genes could help fight myrtle rust - scientist
Mānuka tree genetics has the potential to help the myrtle plant family develop resistance to myrtle rust, a scientist says.
Scientists search for myrtle resistant manuka genetic code
The race is on to find a genetic code in manuka that makes the plant resistant to Myrtle Rust. The airborne fungal disease has now be found in 46 properties from Northland to Taranaki, with the latest… Audio
Myrtle rust found in Bay of Plenty
The plant disease has been confirmed in Te Puke, in the first find outside the main infection area in Taranaki in weeks.
Myrtle rust toll: 34 properties infected
The potentially devastating plant disease is continuing to spread, particularly in Taranaki, with a further five properties found with infections this week.
DOC use helicopters to collect seeds from native trees
Department of Conservation staff are going to extreme lengths, even dangling out of helicopters, to preserve the seeds of native trees in the case of myrtle rust spreads even further. Alan Ross is the… Audio
Myrtle rust putting pōhutukawa at dire risk
Officials are warning the iconic pōhutukawa could be one of the worst affected plants and even die off completely as the outbreak spreads. Audio
Pōhutukawa hedge destroyed as myrtle rust spreads
Myrtle rust is continuing to spread in Taranaki, with the fungal disease found in established pōhutukawa for the first time.
Northland nursery cleared of myrtle rust
The first property found with the potentially devastating plant disease has been cleared to reopen.
A Fright for Feijoas?
Frans de Jong grows thousands of feijoa trees near Matamata in Waikato. He's keeping a close eye out for evidence of guava moth or myrtle rust in his orchard. Audio
